“Kuddle with Kuma”: Fostering Connection and Comfort at the University Library
“This just helps so much with the school stress.”
Alexa Tastelum (SDSU fourth-year student)
Over the past decade, the University Library has collaborated with campus colleagues, including Associated Students, Student Affairs + Campus Diversity, and others to provide spaces, services, and programs designed to promote health, wellness, and student success. One of the most popular of these programs – expanded this year from a “stress-busting” offering during final exams to one available every week during the academic semesters – is visits from SDSU’s therapy dogs.
Visits from therapy dogs have emerged as a popular and successful program across libraries of all types and have been cited as contributing to programs promoting literacy education, stress reduction, and community building. At SDSU, visits from therapy dogs like Luna (a 5-year-old cross between a Cavalier Spaniel and Poodle, or “Cavapoo”) have been a popular feature of our student services during final exams, which also include access to games, snacks, and more. Given this success, we were excited to partner with Counseling and Psychological Services to launch a weekly opportunity to “Kuddle with Kuma.” On any given Tuesday between noon and 1 p.m. (check the Library Events Calendar), you are likely to find students lined up to take their turn petting this adorable canine. Why is Kuma so popular? There are many reasons, but second-year student Kallen Kraus has one that resonates with many students: “I have two dogs at home …. I’m homesick for them, and it's just nice to be able to play with a dog sometimes.”
Kuma, a 2-year-old cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle (or "Bernadoodle", or, more precisely, a "mini-Bernadoodle"), is one of three SDSU therapy dogs, along with his partners in crime, Luna and Pogi (a 2-year-old cross between a Golden Retriever and Poodle, or “Goldendoodle”). The dogs are part of the Counseling & Psychological Services (C&PS) team, and each is cared for by one of the center’s therapists. In addition to being Kuma’s human, Dr. Koko Nishi is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides individual therapy and support groups for SDSU students. “One of the things I love most about bringing Kuma to work is seeing how much students light up when they see him,” said Nishi. “In that moment, they get to pause, feel cared for, and simply enjoy being present with him. And he seems to love it too! I like to think that Kuma is a helpful reminder that healing can come in many different forms. Sometimes, healing can occur through talking with a therapist, other times, it can be found in the simple joy and comfort of a fluffy, calm and affectionate dog.”
In addition to drop-in visits at the library and around campus, therapy dogs are also available for appointments through C&PS. Kuma currently has “office hours” on Mondays from 12-1 p.m., and Pogi is available on Fridays from 9-10 a.m. Students can schedule 15-minute appointments by calling the C&PS front desk or walking in to request a meeting. You can also follow them on Instagram!
Philanthropic gifts allowed for the purchase and training of the dogs, who are certified as therapy dogs. Dr. Jennifer Rikard, Chief Mental Health Officer, said, “In the presence of a dog, there’s data to say that blood pressure decreases, the feel-good hormone increases, concentration improves, and these effects can last 12 hours or so.”
Since 2023, the Library has collaborated with student health professionals to provide new spaces and services designed to meet our students' mental and emotional health needs, including access to new single-use study rooms and resources found in our Pick-Me-Up Kits. The next time you are in the library on a Tuesday at noon, stop by and meet Kuma, give him a treat, and watch him spin in circles or give you a fist bump. Or simply sit for a quiet minute of petting. Either way, research suggests it may make you feel better, and you are also likely to be part of a crowd of enthusiastic dog lovers.
