B

The stresses of college studies are enough to drive even those of high tolerance crazy, especially around the times of final examinations.

Walters State Community College has a program that encourages owners of therapy dogs to come into the Jack Fishman Library at various times to help calm students who may have an issue with study or stress in general.

One of the therapy dogs, “Johnny Drama,” has been coming every other week for the last two years, according to Walters State Reference/Emerging Technologies Librarian Audrey Shoemaker.

“He is a really sweet dog, a Belgian Malinois breed,” Shoemaker said. “He is a rescued Belgian.”

According to “The Belgian Malinois: A Complete and Comprehensive Beginners’ Guide” by Michael Stonewood, the breed is a highly-intelligent, energetic and versatile working dog, known for loyalty, agility and strong protective instincts.

His owner is Kim Dunn, from the local “Human Animal Bond in Tennessee” (HABIT) dog program.

HABIT is a community group of volunteers working together to explore the circumstances and consequences of the human-animal bond and to promote this valuable bond between people and animals. HABIT is comprised of representatives from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, volunteers from the community, and private veterinary practitioners.

“Johnny began coming for special events,” Shoemaker said. “Diamond and I struck up a situation where she comes every other week with Johnny. These dogs have been coming in here since 2018. We have another owner who’s actually brought three dogs. We have had about 20 different dogs (over the years) for the program here.

“The students really love it. They benefit from it. We try to bring them in during final exams.”

Shoemaker said that when many of the students move out of their parents’ home into college, they also leave their childhood animals.

“Some don’t interact with animals for a couple of years,” she said. “It’s a really wonderful program,” she said.

Shoemaker said that when the nursing students have a lot of studying to do around final exams, a couple of Pointers come around, as well as a Corgi and an Irish Wolfhound.

“We have a pretty consistent program and the students watch for our announcements on social media, signs around the library and campus,” Shoemaker said. “It’s really great. Having a dog around makes a difference to them.”

Sometimes students will study for hours when they take a five-minute break with one of the dogs.

“It’s a good reset for their brains and bodies,” Shoemaker said. “It’s a nice little study break.”

Shoemaker praised the dogs for being really well-behaved and careful to have the temperament that appreciates attention.

“I can be sure that these dogs are going to interact well with these college kids,” she said. “It’s been really great to have that relationship.”

Two other dogs also come to visit, but they are on a two-week rotation each due to these being owned by the same person.

“We have dogs who come at the beginning and the end of the semester, as well as special events,” Shoemaker said. “Kim will come anytime she is needed.”

Kim took the time to talk about Johnny.

“Drama was treated when he was a year old by UT,” she said. “He had a condition called Craniomandibular Osteopathy. Once they finished his treatment, we actually found out that the HABIT Program was a way that we could give back. We have been doing this for about seven years here. HABIT does a great job of training dogs. When they see somebody who has multiple dogs, we can train more. They put a lot of time and effort into it.

“Dogs are amazing,” Kim said. “They don’t judge; they love everybody. They’re the way we should all be. They’re a great stress-releaser/reliever. He’ll just come over and talk to you.”

One student who benefits from the therapy dogs is General Studies Major student Madyson Bates of Morristown.

“Johnny thinks he’s a lap dog,” Madyson said. “I’ve been around the dogs since last semester.”

“Johnny knows Madyson and he comes over to her,” Shoemaker said.

While Madyson didn’t have any animals in her home growing up, she said that she had been around plenty of zoos over the years.

“My cousin is (also) a Marine Biologist,” Madyson said. “I’m pretty familiar with animals.”

As Johnny played around with Madyson, she ends up with enough hair on her clothing to merit a lint/hair brush for hair removal due to shedding.

“Johnny absolutely helps me with the stress,” Madyson said. “With all of the quizzes and test, it can be really stressful sometimes. He is very helpful with that.

During the final exam times, Kim said that an animal is usually on campus to help students cope with the anxiety, especially the last 15 minutes before an exam.

“Instead of chewing off your fingernails, you can pet a dog,” Kim said.

Final examinations will be held the first week of May, but the dogs will also be available the study week which is the week before final exams.

The dogs also help the students who have put off going to school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim said.

“The ability to come here and find the loving environment of ‘Here’s a meal,’ ‘Here’s a dog to support you,’ these can keep a student in school,” Kim said.

Madyson said that she was an eighth-grader during the COVID-19 pandemic and was having to take online classes.

“I missed eighth grade because people around me were sick,” Madyson said.

During the interview, Johnny Drama came to this reporter, demonstrating the “Docking” process.

“It allows dogs to get IVs, (as in making sure patients have IV lines),” Kim said. “They take this seriously. Part of his training was being around (patients in) wheelchairs, crutches. When a student in a wheelchair comes through, Johnny doesn’t react.”

For those who want to get involved in the HABIT program, call 865-974-5633 or email habit@utk.edu. If you call, please leave a message and it will be returned by a volunteer as soon as possible.