Connector Staff
Everybody knows that a dog is a man’s best friend. Well, a dog is also a River Hawk’s best friend. Healthy Hawks UMass Lowell sponsored a therapy dog event, Paws to Play, on Sept. 23, and four adorable, fuzzy, four-legged friends were treated like celebrities in Fox Common from 6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. and in Leitch Hall from 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. In Fox Common, the four pooches had a gravitational pull as strong as the sun’s as students orbited around the canines. The dogs and their owners were happy to see students relieve stress, play with the dogs, and just have a good time.
One dog was a gentle giant named Truman. Truman is a male black Mastiff the size of an adolescent woolly mammoth, and he looked as if he could have eaten Fox Hall itself. He had a couple instances of wayward saliva escaping his Grand Canyon-sized mouth, and some nearby students were struck. However, they were okay, and Truman, the affable dog he is, was rewarded with gentle back rubs.
Otis is a black Spaniel Mix who showed up to the party clearly looking to make a scene, as he wore a dashing bandana around his doggy neck. His owner said that Otis may even have some Lab in him, and he eagerly paced between the many students, hunting gentle hands that could provide a quality behind-the-ear scratch.
Tufi is a Swedish Vallhund who is short in stature but tall in character. Tufi accepted the plenty of pats students were happy to give with a calm warmth. Tufi navigated around the circle of humans with the aura of a Viking, as the Vallhund is believed to originate from Sweden during the age of the Vikings.
Last but certainly not least is little Tilly. Tilly, half miniature poodle, half rat terrier, is a gentle little pup who sat comfortably on the Fox Common floor and calmly took in her surroundings. She appeared to perhaps be a bit overwhelmed by so many people being around, but hey, that is college.
Paws to Play was quite popular, with many students coming to the event, as the line reached out of Fox Common and out the door of Fox Hall. Students had to wait in line so the dogs did not have a hundred students reaching for them at once. The event was for a great cause, to promote wellness and to reduce stress among students, and nearly every human being on Earth loves dogs. Nearly every human being, and just about every River Hawk.
