St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs visit St. Clair College

Lesley Smith, unit coordinator of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs program is here with Angus, an Aussiedoodle during a weekly visit to St. Clair College. Photo by Ken Pastushyn.

By Kenneth Pastushyn.

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs visit the Student Learning Commons at St. Clair College’s south  

campus every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. 

The therapy dogs are there to provide comfort, companionship and joy to stressed-out students if only  

for an hour. 

Their volunteer handlers also take them on weekly visits to other schools as well as hospitals, seniors  

residences, nursing homes, businesses and community centres. 

“The pets, the attention, all the people,” said Raymond Hoover, 68, the handler of Bentley, his Blue  

Merle Great Dane. Hoover said his therapy dog loves visiting St. Clair College, because “he’s a people  

dog.”  

According to Bentley’s bio on the back of his trading card, he is a “true lap dog” and “he will sit on your  

lap if you are sitting in a chair,” all 131 pounds of him. Bentley is also “very friendly” and will lean against  

you for a gentle scratch, rub or pat. 

Roxie, the Red Merle Border Collie, was another therapy dog who visited the SLC Centre. Her hobbies are  

agility training and can play frisbee all day. Also, according to the back of her trading card, Roxie loves  

children, and she loves her job as a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog.” 

“They (students) get a little stress relief from their classes, exams and they love to pet her,” said Roxie’s  

handler Richard Fraser, 59. 

Lesley Smith, 55, the unit coordinator said she loves everything about the St. John Ambulance Therapy  

Dogs program. 

“It’s so rewarding for me sharing my very special dog with people,” said Smith. 

Her special dog is Angus, a big, cuddly and furry Aussiedoodle who also loves people, other dogs and  

Smith’s pet cat. According to the bio on the back of his trading card, Angus became a therapy dog 20  

days after his eligibility. “He just couldn’t wait!” 

And Smith knows the difference Angus and other therapy dogs make when visiting St. Clair College. 

“I see the students and how happy they are,” said Smith. “And it makes me feel a little better.”