Oklahoma State Therapy Dog Program Began in 2013
Oklahoma State University students access mental well-being support through a specialized campus therapy dog initiative.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Dogs
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Oklahoma State University launched Pete's Pet Posse in 2013 to provide students with relaxation and mental well-being support. The program connects students with certified therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers across the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses.
Why it matters
The initiative offers ongoing emotional support and relaxation for students by integrating animal-assisted therapy into the campus environment. It relies on a model where staff members volunteer their own time and pets to serve the student body.
Since 2013, Pete's Pet Posse has utilized dogs such as a seven-pound Maltese named Cookie. These animals provide interaction on campus approximately once per week to support student wellness.
The players
Oklahoma State University
A public research university that operates the therapy dog program for its students.
Pete's Pet Posse
The specific therapy dog program that provides relaxation and support to students at Oklahoma State University.
The details
The program functions by pairing university employees with their personal dogs to serve as volunteer handlers. Before participating, both the dogs and handlers must complete formal training and certification processes, which include meeting strict temperament requirements to ensure safety and effectiveness in a campus setting.
Timeline
The program originated at the Stillwater campus in 2013.
The therapy dog Cookie visits the campus once a week.
The Home Front
The use of therapy dogs in higher education follows a broader documented trend of institutions prioritizing student mental health through animal-assisted interventions. This reflects an industry shift toward integrating accessible emotional support resources into daily campus logistics.
Students and families should check official university portal calendars to see when therapy dogs are scheduled to visit campus locations. If you are interested in animal-assisted support, look for university-certified programs that require temperament training for participating animals.
The takeaway
The program highlights the value of structured animal-handler training in maintaining student well-being on university campuses. Families of students can encourage their children to monitor official university communications for the weekly visitation schedule of participating dogs like Cookie.
Further reading
Learn more about the role of pets in emotional support by visiting our Dogs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox23.
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