Saint Louis University has welcomed Woody, a two-year-old English Labrador Retriever, to support the University's commitment to well-being by helping to decrease stress and improve moods through interactions with SLU students, faculty, and staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Woody is a yellow English labrador retriever. His handlers include Tori Harwood, primary handler (Campus Recreation & Wellness); Rebecca Weiser, secondary handler (University Counseling Center); Matt Davis, secondary handler (Provost Office); and Eric Anderson - secondary handler (Student Development).
Woody will assist with decreasing stress, improving moods, and promoting overall well-being through interactions with our students, faculty, and staff on campus. We like to think of Woody as an employee who comes to serve our community daily.
SLU partnered with Duo Dogs to welcome a facility dog on campus in alignment with our broader mental health and well-being efforts. As a full-time support resource, Woody will:
- Provide courage and comfort in uncomfortable situations or spaces
- Increase self-confidence and self-esteem
- Assist in overcoming emotional barriers and re-establish trust
- Decrease stress and overwhelming anxiety
According to Assistance Dogs International, Inc., the accreditation that certifies all Duo Dogs, Inc. canines:
Service dogs help individuals with disabilities. They undergo rigorous training to perform specific duties related to the individual's diagnosed disability. They are trained for tasks such as pulling a wheelchair, bracing, retrieving, alerting or helping with a medical crisis. Service dogs are also trained to perform tasks for other conditions including autism, PTSD, epilepsy or diabetes.
Facility dogs undergo similar training to service dogs but are specifically trained to work with handlers in residential homes, clinics, or organizations. They carry out specific, skilled tasks with multiple clients and must be more than simply a presence in the facility. An ADI member must train the handler. The facility dog is authorized to work within the assigned facility only. Facility dogs do not have public access rights and do not fall under the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Therapy dogs are usually in-home pets that can be trained to provide comfort and affection to people other than their owners. This is usually on a volunteer basis when the dogs and their owners visit schools, hospitals, or other public places. Therapy dogs are temporary visitors and are not constantly present at a facility.
Emotional support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. Emotional support animals do not have public access and are not supported for public access from the Americans for Disability Act (from the ADA).
Woody is allowed in all facilities on campus except lactation rooms, food preparation areas, serving and dining areas, SLU vans, shuttles, mechanical rooms, kitchen areas, and the data centers (located in Des Peres Hall, Doisy Research Center, and the Caroline Building).
As a facility dog, Woody has had extensive training to assist with stress reduction and increase positive well-being when he interacts with individuals. He also trains daily and will recertify every year. There are specific policies in place that allow Woody to engage with the SLU community and to ensure everyone stays safe.
Requests are limited at this time as Woody is still onboarding to his new role. That said, the SLU community will not be able to request Woody to hang out while studying or in their residential hall. The campus community will have many events and opportunities to interact and engage with Woody regularly.
If you would like to pet Woody, just let his handlers know at that time. Woody really loves people, so he will come up to you after permission is given and smell your legs or feet. Woody enjoys pets on his back and sometimes belly rubs! He just asks that people don’t hover over him or get face-to-face with him during interactions.
Woody was born on March 13, 2022.
Duo Dogs, Inc. gives each litter a theme. Woody’s litter is the “tree litter,” so all of his litter mates are named after trees.
No. Woody is on a strict diet and enrichment schedule. Only his handlers are allowed to give him treats while training or his dog food.
No, Woody is a working animal supporting our campus community. Our handlers will not allow nose-to-nose interaction with other dogs.
Woody is a yellow English Labrador Retriever and is not hypoallergenic. Please let our handler know if you are allergic to dogs so that we can maintain appropriate space and distance. Individuals are not required to interact with Woody. Each handler has a space in their office for him and alternative meeting locations can be accommodated for individuals with allergies.
Duo Facility Dog Woody has been specially trained to work with individuals and must always be on leash when interacting with people. Please let our handler know if you are uncomfortable around dogs so that we can maintain appropriate distance. Of course, individuals are not required to interact with Woody.
No, Woody lives with his primary handler, Tori. He travels with her to SLU Monday-Friday and leaves at the end of the day to return home.
Woody is expected to work up to around 10 years old, unless any unforeseen circumstances or health ailments arise that wouldn’t allow him to continue his work.
I love getting pets, bringing joy and smiles to faces, and I love my job!