A team of adorable faces and wagging tails provided students with memorable moments and smiles during midterm exam week.
Each semester, the Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers’ therapy dogs and their handlers visit the University of New Mexico for the “Cuddle a Canine” event. At this semester’s event, hosted on Oct. 23, a pack of eight dogs of a wide variety of breeds, all with fuzzy faces, came to campus.
As the event unfolded near Zimmerman Library, students took time out of their routine and enjoyed the little things in life — in the form of fur and teeth.
The program attracts volunteers and their pets, a crew that comes in all shapes and sizes. The smallest dog was named Jaydee, a mini Australian labradoodle, and the largest was Knuckles Malone, a greyhound.
The large dogs are what brought Abby Yarin, a masters student in applied statistics, to the event, she said.
“These are not supplemental to my own dogs, though, to see them makes me very happy,” Yarin said.
Similarly, Paris Baldante, a masters student in creative writing, enjoyed the event.
“I love this event. A lot of college campuses do it and I even pet each dog. I do write a lot about nature in my stories, so animals appearing is inevitable,” Baldante said.
Most of these dogs are returning to UNM after participating in past events, underscoring the commitment of these teams and the popularity of the program.
Sherry Mangold, the events director of SWCCV, said that the “Cuddle a Canine” event is tradition.
“The dogs particularly love it as they are usually volunteering in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities, as well as schools, and they truly enjoy the company of healthy university students,” Mangold said.
Mangold brought Malone to the event, who is big enough “for four undergrads to pet at the same time,” she said. Malone is a rescued former racing dog.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
“It’s a pleasure to be with students who are missing their families. We certainly hear a lot of family dog stories from them and are treated to cell phone photos of their furry family members,” Mangold said.
SWCCV will be back with dogs next semester in the spring to support students, Mangold said.
Sadie Lang, a freshman in interdisciplinary arts, was ecstatic while petting a dog because it isn’t every day she has this chance, she said.
“You see a dog, pet a dog — don’t take it for granted,” Lang said.
Nicholas Skaldetvind is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
