Finals week is upon us, and for most that means spiraling into a bottomless pit of anxiety. Lucky for us, however, we have a group of four-legged friends at the to help us through it! Consider this your inside look at the most popular Pet Therapy pups, because we all need some good boys and girls in our lives right now.
Marcy
Marcy is a 6-year-old black lab who usually visits the Barnes Center on Wednesdays with her handler, Sue Ellen. Marcy is an active dog who loves hiking, frolicking in the snow and playing with her beloved soccer ball. When her therapy vest goes on she becomes extremely mellow, making her the perfect pup to relax with! When she’s not at Syracuse University, you can find Marcy at the airport providing support to anxious travelers, or in elementary schools listening to children read her stories. Fun fact: She is named after Mount Marcy, the tallest mountain in New York!
Clayton
Clayton is basically a celebrity around the Barnes Center—he even comes with his own business card! He can usually be found in the Pet Therapy room Wednesday evenings with his handlers, MaryAnn and Tom. He is a 6-year-old golden doodle who is absolutely beloved by Syracuse University students. His energy lights up the room, and his friendly attitude makes him the perfect dog to cuddle with after a particularly stressful day! You can follow Clayton on Instagram at .
Jake
Jake the poodle is the prince of the Pet Therapy program. He is 12 years old and has spent six of those years working as a therapy dog. When he’s not doing therapy he can be a little stubborn, but as soon as he puts on his vest, he loves nothing more than working a crowd! Jake’s favorite activities (aside from providing comfort to students) include going on walks, cuddling and playing with his brother, a poodle mix. Jake is quite the Instagram influencer with over 13,000 followers, and he can always be seen decked out in Syracuse University swag! You can follow him at .
Blue
This adorable hound mutt has only been coming to Syracuse University since September, but he has already made a big impact on students! Blue is 3 years old and was rescued from in north Syracuse. Despite originating from Texas, Blue absolutely loves playing in the snow during the winter season! He is not afraid to give you a big kiss on the nose, and he would probably hang out with college students all day if he could.
works alongside and to bring these comforting canines to Syracuse University students on a regular basis. The Pet Therapy room is located in Room 103 of the Barnes Center, and those interested in attending a session can find dates and times on the .
The Peel wishes you good luck on all your finals, and don’t forget to pet a dog this week!
Written By Madison Manczko ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications