PLATTSBURGH — The snowy and dreary weather Thursday morning did not stop Izzy, a black English lab and trained therapy dog, from brightening up the days of several SUNY Plattsburgh students in Au Sable Hall.
The event, part of SUNY Plattsburgh’s Wellness Week and on the heels of Valentine’s Day, was hosted by the college’s student-run Au Sable Café. It was aimed to help students de-stress, recharge and enjoy heartwarming company with a furry friend.
Izzy, a K9 therapy dog, is owned by SUNY Plattsburgh’s University Police Department and handled by Officer Nathaniel Yeager. Yeager said since getting Izzy, 1, last year, she’s been to many events like this, including hockey games.
“I can’t walk anywhere without her, because if I walk into a dorm or a building, people remember me with her, and if I don’t have her, there’s so many people that are like, where’s Izzy? Where’s Izzy?” Yeager said.
“They don’t care about me anymore, which is what the purpose is for her. She’s kind of the star of the show.”
‘THAT’S WHAT SHE’S HERE FOR’
Thursday’s event aimed to promote mental well-being, relaxation and community engagement as students take on the semester.
Yeager said Izzy has helped bridge the gap between the police and community in the short time the department has had her and students, especially, respond well to her.
“After having her on campus for part of the spring semester of 2024 and then the fall semester of 2024, I noticed a huge difference in the amount of general public, community members and students coming up to me, having a conversation with me that we may not have had without me having a dog,” he said.
“That’s what she’s here for.”
IT CAN REALLY SOOTHE SOMEBODY
Yeager said Izzy can help de-escalate situations as well.
“If somebody’s in crisis, and obviously, if they like dogs, what she’s doing right now,” he said pointing to Izzy getting pet, “it’s been proven that it can really soothe somebody, where it could persuade somebody to talk with us, talk through their feelings and stuff, where we can use words instead of other means to get somebody to come with us to the hospital for help or whatnot as well.”
Nicole Mikowski, a SUNY Plattsburgh senior and marketing team member at the college’s Au Sable Cafe, said she and another student were in charge of the promotional material for the event, which she hopes did its part in helping de-stress students.
“I feel like the first few weeks are very overwhelming for a lot of students, especially for a lot of seniors, who are feeling this is our last stretch, got to make it the best, got to make the most of it,” Mikowski said.
She also hopes events like this puts Au Sable Cafe on the radar for more students.
“I feel like we don’t get a lot of people stopping by as much, so we’re trying to have promotions to actually attract students as well as come and enjoy a free event,” Mikowski said.
“With Wellness Week, I feel like with the dogs here, it just helps the students with stress and also at the same time shows what we have to offer … because we’re still pretty new, so we’re still exploring the options of what actually gets people to come here.”
For those students who do wander into Au Sable Hall’s Cafe, Mikowski said she wants them to know it’s a safe place.
“We’re really just trying to emphasize ‘come here, come here, come over here,’” she said.