BGSU PAWS Team
The BGSU PAWS Team is a dedicated group of campus and community volunteers and certified therapy dogs. The team hosts events on BGSU campuses throughout the year and is also available by request.
This program is part of the Wellness Connection at BGSU and we offer programing to support the BGSU community in all aspects of wellness.
Positive impacts of animal therapy:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Decreased feelings of loneliness, pain and fatigue
- Increased feelings of safety
- Decreased risk for cardiovascular disease
- Increased physical exercise
PAWS stands for Partners in Achieving Wellness for Students, staff and faculty. All PAWS dogs are certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Certified therapy dogs must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle and at ease in all situations.
PAWS Team Events
Jean Kitchen and Sochi received the Classroom Hero of the Month Award from BCAN/BCSN!
Congratulations to our own, Jean and Sochi for receiving the Buckeye Community Arts Network/Buckey Cable Sports Network Classroom Hero of the Month Award for November! We are so proud to have this amazing team as part of BGSU PAWS! Thank you for all you do, Jean & Sochi. Learn more about their award on the BSCN Classroom Heroes Website.
Lex Blanton
I grew up in the dog industry apprenticing under various nationally recognized trainers and participating in AKC & UKC junior handling events since early childhood. I have been competitive in dog shows for 15 years, putting numerous show & sport titles on both my dogs and client dogs. I have been employed as a professional trainer for 9 years, working with good manners clients, service dogs, therapy dogs, detection dogs, aggression cases, and more. I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge & Skills Assessed through the CCPDT, a Zoom Room Certified Master Trainer, an IAABC behavior consultant, a Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer, a certified AKC Family Dog Evaluator, an ATD Therapy Dog Tester/Observer, and an active member of the Pet Professional Guild.
At Zoom Room, we don't train dogs, we train the people who love them! We offer AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Scent Work, Urban Herding, Flyball, Therapy Dog, Tricks, and Canine Conditioning classes in Perrysburg, OH. Zoom Room dog training classes are specially designed to encourage dogs to build confidence and success as they master new behaviors in a simple, step-by-step process. Our classes have skills-based graduation requirements to keep learning at your own pace. Every class is also offered multiple times each week so you can come as many or as few times as you want each week for additional instruction and practice.
Cheryl Kubista
I am the owner and Master trainer here at Talk Dog Toledo, LLC training facility. I have been training dogs for the last 18 years here in the Toledo, OH area. After completing a 4-week intense training program, I opened my own training company 2005. I have completed additional training over the years to further my skills. I work with dogs of all ages, all breeds and all types of issues. I offer private lessons, group classes and board and train options for clients. My group classes start with puppy kindergarten and go all the way up to therapy dog and service dog skills. I work with my clients to make sure that they can achieve their dog training goals! I am also an AKC and CGC evaluator, an Alliance of Therapy Dogs tester and observer and a field rep for Paws with a Cause. I am a professional member of the IACP as well as the APDT.
Meet the Therapy Dogs
Griff
Breed: Corgi
Birthdate: 01/02/2020
Family: Ellen R.
Social Media: Facebook – Griff the Corgi
Major: Bachelor of Science in Belly Rubs
Wellness Practices: I take an hour long nap every day after school.
Fun Fact: I spend my days at a school, keeping students company as they learn science.
Harri
Breed: Sheep-a-doodle
Birthdate: 7/14/2006
Family: LeeAnn Liebetrei
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/sheepadoodleohio
Major: Sweetness and Love
Wellness Practices: Harri has found his passion! He is going to single pawly rid his community of all the pesky squirrels.
Fun Fact: Harri will NEVER steal your sandwich! He is unbelievably suspicious of EVERY kind of food. He must be talked into most treats, let alone a real piece of meat! Maybe....MAYBE he'll take some cheese, but it usually takes a lot of prodding.
Chase
Breed: Goldendoodle
Birthdate: 11/25/2019
Family: Jaclyn N.
Major: Bachelor of Science in Playing with a double minor in Toys and Basketball
Wellness Practices: I take daily walks, run around the backyard, and share happiness during therapy visits.
Fun Fact: I love to be active and enjoy playing basketball. I love the smiles and joy I bring everyone when I visit!
Joey
Breed: Parti Yorkie
Birthdate: 04/04/2020
Family: Sue R.
Social Media: Email - joeyjo44@yahoo.com
Major: Bachelor of Art in It’s a Dog Life
Wellness Practices: Although I love my treats, I limit them each day. I also do my daily exercise of chasing the ball to stay fit.
Fun Fact: My first therapy visit was at BGSU in March 2022!
Sochi
Breed: Boykin Spaniel
Birthdate: 4/15/2014
Family: Jean K.
Major: Bachelor of Arts in Cuteness
Wellness Practices: I take lots of naps!
Fun Fact: I get VERY excited about chipmunks and sticks. I also know my right paw from my left paw.
Bubbles
Breed: Greyhound
Birthdate: 07/20/2016
Family: Kim & Emily
Social Media: Instagram – bubbles.therapy.dog
Major: Bachelor of Arts in Relaxation with a concentration in 45mph Couch Potato
Wellness Practices: I take extra naps and do lots of doggy yoga.
Fun Fact: I am a retired racing greyhound.
Murphy
Breed: Bichon Frise
Birthdate: 03/02/2005
Family: Chris & Garry W.
Social Media: None. Although I have been featured on TV and in the Toledo Blade.
Major: Doctorate in Psychology and Sociology
Wellness Practices: Practicing meditation. Do not be fooled if I look asleep, I am deep in thought.
Fun Fact: I have 17 years on the job as a therapy dog. I am blind and deaf.
Oreo
Breed: Chihuahua Mix
Birthdate: 08/19/2013
Family: Chris & Garry W.
Social Media: None. It’s a work in progress.
Major: Pursuing his Master of Arts in Behavior
Wellness Practices: Like my brother, I practice meditation. I may look asleep, but I am actually deep in thought.
Fun Fact: My brother and I have a stroller decorated with Christmas lights in which we sometimes get to ride.
Hawkeye
Breed: Husky
Birthdate: 10/05/2019
Family: AnnaBelle
Social Media: Not yet.
Major: Bachelor of Science in Business with dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.
How do you practice wellness: I eat lots of snacks and take lots of naps.
Fun Fact: I am from Alaska. Also, I got my name from the TV show Mash, not from the Marvel character.
Dash
Breed: Welsh Terrier
Birthdate: 12/13/2014
Family: Sue S.
Major: Dashing
Wellness Practices: I like to eat, sleep, run around, greet neighbors, eat and sleep. Fun Fact: I am a Welsh Terrier, and 20 pounds of pure energy! I’m pretty smart and very stubborn, but my mom is the top dog in our house. My real name is Czar Dashing Bandit, but everyone just calls me Dash. My favorite thing to do is run with teenage boys.
Mocha
Breed: Chocolate Lab Mix
Birthdate: 03/05/2019
Family: Joe & Bonnie F.
Major: Bachelor of Science in Playing
Wellness Practices: I go to annual visits to the vet. I eat lots of carrots and apple snacks. An apple a day keeps the vet away. And I remind my family repeatedly until I get my daily walk.
Fun Fact: I love car rides and walks. My favorite time of day is mealtime, and an hour before, I start begging for my food.
Bennington (a.k.a. Benny) George
Breed: Newfoundland
Birthdate: 01/27/2017
Family: Carol Treece
Major: Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. I am also a certified reading instructor and boat captain.
Wellness Practices: I enjoy swimming, exploring for dropped food and lost toys on walks. I also sing in a choir and I’m on the water polo team at Poco’s daycare.
Fun Fact: My initials are B.G. and I am 165lbs.
Check me out at the Wood County District Public Library helping with the PAWS Reading Program.
Bella
Breed: Australian Shepard
Birthdate: 3/18/2021
Family: Krista Hellwig
Major: Physical Fitness and Toyology
Wellness Practices: chasing golf balls, always playing with toys and trying to get her dog sister, Mya Mae to chase her in the yard.
Gordie
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Birthdate: 3/3/2018
Family: Debbie Van Sloun
Major: Social Worker with a Minor in Napping
Wellness Practices: Gordie likes to go for walks and eats a healthy diet. He loves carrots and apples!
Mack
Breed: Saint Bernard
Birthdate: 3/18/2021
Family: Sara D.
Major: Bachelor of Arts in Mindfulness
Wellness Practices: I enjoy nightly walks in the woods, snuggling my humans (especially my kids!), and enjoying the outdoors - snow, rain, or sun!!
Rodger
Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthdate: 4/10/2014
Family: Carrie Connelly
Major: Masters in Snoozing
Wellness Practices: Lots of rest and leisurely strolls.
Fun Fact: I hate swimming and retrieving.
Blaze
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Birthdate: 7/4/2017
Family: Laurie Gross
Major: Children/Teen Therapist
Wellness Practices: gets plenty of sleep, exercises regularly.
Fun Fact: gets along with everyone, loves to come to work with family.
Cooper
Breed: Bulldog
Birthdate: 5/21/2021
Family: Roy and Angela Young
Major: Purveyor of Smiles
Wellness Practices: Allowing people to give him pats.
Rosie
Breed: Red Labrador Retriever
Birthdate: 2014
Family: Jacquelyn Rosebrock
Major: Making people happy
Wellness Practices: Napping, snacking, and taking long walks
Fun Fact: Rosie has had numerous litters of puppies!
Uno
Breed:
Birthdate: 2/28/2019
Family: Stacy S.
Social Media: Instagram: rileys_angels
Facebook: Riley's Angels
Major: Master's Candidate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
How do you practice wellness: I take a daily morning walk with my human to get my blood flowing. I like to indulge in a pup cup from time to time, nap often, and play with my emotional support sock toy.
Archie
Breed: Portuguese Water Dog
Birthdate: 9/16/2020
Family: Ron (Doc. Z) Zwerlein, PH.D.
Major: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) Clinical specialty, Residency in Neurological Conditioning & Training of my handler.
Wellness Practices: Going for daily walks or runs with an occasional swim. I stick to a well-balanced diet and have 3 meals a day.
Fun Fact: My breed was originally developed in the 1930s by Dr. Bensaude in Portugal. I only respond to Portuguese commands.
In Loving Memory
Faith, a miniature American Shepard, was an amazing dog who loved spreading joy to others. She was born March 17th, 2013. Faith served as a medical service dog for 8 years prior to becoming a therapy dog. She knew over 130 commands and could read a command on a paper and then do the command.
March 2013-April 2022
Brady was known around campus for his love of belly rubs. Brady loved to swim and go duck hunting. Brady had 7 titles including AKC Canine Good Citizenship Advanced. He started as a therapy dog in 2015 and did nearly 1000 visits.
03/01/2012 – 05/16/2022
Updated: 03/01/2023 12:37PM