Pets on Campus

By: Izabela Cabrera
Photos by: Izabela Cabrera 

By now, most of the Marymount student population has seen many cute animal faces on campus. One of the famous ones is Harley the Great Dane.

We all love animals. How could you not? They are cute, cuddly, and super supportive when it comes to emotional turmoil. By now, most of the Marymount student population has seen many cute animal faces on campus. One of the famous ones is Harley the Great Dane. She is by far the sweetest and calmest dog I have ever met. Her owner, Kate Horton, is an exact copy of Harley’s behavior. Harley is a four-year-old Great Dane. She is Kate’s registered emotional support dog and she’s even trained for public access and psychiatric services. Since there has been an increase in furry friends on campus, I decided to interview Kate about how Harley has made a difference in her academic life on campus as well as how Harley has made an impact on her life thus far. 

Q: “How has Harley helped you deal with stress when it comes to classes?”

A: “Harley has definitely been an asset for me here on campus, she is a joy to come back to after my long days in class. Being able to take her on a walk has been a really good way to decompress, especially though midterm week. She also teaches me extra responsibility and time management skills. I have to make sure I am taking care of myself so that I can best take care of her.”

By having animals on campus that truly are ESA (Emotional Support Animals), students can not only decompress after a long day but it’s also a great sense of responsibility. While it can be a lot of work, being able to relax after a long day of classes could be beneficial academically. Especially during midterms and finals, stress levels can be high.

Q: “Do you think having a service animal on campus would benefit a lot of struggling students? Based on your experience with Harley.”

A: “I think animals have a really special ability to sense emotions and provide a lot more support than people always realize. I think that if you are willing and able to take care of another being outside of yourself, and make sure you keep up with training as well it can be a good resource. However, if your dog is not well-behaved it can cause a lot of struggle with not only yourself but you could get into some sticky situations with the campus as well. Part of Harley being here is contingent on her good behavior!”

A lot of students, especially as of recently, have brought their pets to campus. While some may actually be ESA, others aren’t which does cause an issue with the Housing Department here on campus. A lot of people suffer from allergies to these animals and that isn’t always safe. Some might not be as well behaved, especially since they are probably not ESA certified. This can cause even more issues with safety of the other students that live on campus. While Harley helps Kate move through school and stress, it can be a lot of work that most people aren’t expecting. 

Q: “Would you recommend having a service animal on campus to students who are considering it?”

A: “If you are considering a service animal and have the ability to care for the pet it can be an awesome treatment for struggling students. They can also provide medical alerts outside of psychiatric service, as there are lots of different kinds of service animals. It can be a HUGE financial and social responsibility, however. Service dogs can cost upwards of five to ten thousand dollars depending on the level of training and services you need. I would recommend a service animal to someone depending on their needs. If it is psychiatric service I think in a college setting it can be easier to start with other options.”

As Kate states above, owning a service animal can be really beneficial. Especially if college brings a lot of anxiety and stress to someone. By having a licensed therapist or even a psychologist diagnose you with an emotional stress disorder or even just anxiety disorder, ESA can be a great way to help manage those conditions. However, it can get costly and like Kate mentioned before in my previous question, it takes a lot of responsibility to not only take care of yourself but the animals as well.

Harley has not only helped Kate through her Freshman year of college and the stress that can come with it, Harley is always a show stopping sight. She brings smiles to people’s face’s and while some might not know it, just by seeing Harley and getting to say hi can reduce one’s stress and anxiety over something that is sitting in their minds. If you are struggling and considering looking into getting an ESA, contact Student Access Services for more information. If you are struggling and need immediate assistance, please visit the health center for free counseling services. They have walk-in hours too! If owning a pet is just something you aren’t ready for, the school hosts Doggie Destress every Wellness Wednesday at the Lee center so you can still see your favorite furry friends and decompress for a few hours.