黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜鈥檚 best friend, Baxter, is getting a little sister.

The university's  recently welcomed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/poodle mix puppy 鈥� thanks to a donor鈥檚 pledge 鈥� who will join Baxter as the university鈥檚 second therapy dog. A forthcoming contest will help name the canine companion.

鈥淏axter has been so phenomenal for the students,鈥� said Jennifer Rikard, director of Counseling and Psychological Services.

The sandy blond cocker spaniel mix has provided emotional support and two floppy ears to listen for students, faculty and staff alike for seven years. Students can visit Baxter by scheduling a 30-minute session.
 
鈥淗ealing happens in so many different ways,鈥� Rikard said. 鈥淪o to be able to have a therapy dog with whom students can connect and spend time with can help reduce anxiety, bring calm and ground students. And having Baxter in the office has been great. He鈥檚 a celebrity around campus, and he boosts morale.鈥�

Rickard said Counseling and Psychological Services 鈥渏umped on the idea鈥� when donor James Rostello, a retired teacher from Kansas who retired to San Diego in 2005, proposed a second therapy dog. 鈥淭he idea of having another puppy that can connect with our students, offer them support, attend different events and reach a wider segment of the community was one we couldn鈥檛 pass up,鈥� Rikard said.

Just 11 weeks old, the pup is living with 黑料吃瓜 licensed psychologist Cristina Antonucci, who will serve as the dog鈥檚 caretaker. The virtual work related to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a blessing in disguise, Antonucci said, as it has given her and the new dog an opportunity to bond.

鈥淩ight now, we are doing basic home training, such as potty training and sit and stay commands,鈥� Antonucci said. 鈥淥nce she is old enough, the puppy goes through a therapy and service dog training program that鈥檚 more extensive.

鈥淲ith the COVID-19 pandemic, I鈥檝e actually been able to stay home with her and spend time with her. She鈥檚 still really little. By the time we are back, she should be ready for the next steps.鈥�

Both Antonucci and Rostello think the pup鈥檚 disposition will make her a good therapy dog for 黑料吃瓜. Rostello owns a spaniel-poodle mix named Paisano as well.

鈥淗e鈥檚 wonderful,鈥� Rostello said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 by my side all the time, and I love him dearly. I felt like that breed would be a great therapy dog.鈥�

He noted spaniels are sturdy and don鈥檛 shed a lot of hair, and poodles are known for their intelligence. And above all, Rostello said, the cross breed has good temperament. The dogs are known to be loving, not overly energetic and even-tempered.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e tremendously loving,鈥� Rostello said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to see the new pup interacting with the students on campus once this is over.鈥�

Rostello鈥檚 initial gift paid for the new dog鈥檚 adoption fees, training, supplies, food and upkeep. But his largesse doesn鈥檛 end there; Rostello has left a legacy at 黑料吃瓜 by pledging a $200,000 gift to provide therapy dogs for future generations of Aztecs.

鈥淢r. Rostello鈥檚 generosity is truly appreciated and means more to the students at 黑料吃瓜 鈥� now and into the future 鈥� than he knows,鈥� Rikard said.

The next step for the new dog?

She needs a name and, because she will be a key member of the 黑料吃瓜 student body, students will have a chance to weigh in on her name in a forthcoming naming contest.

鈥淲e will do an announcement and, ideally, we would like students to vote on her name,鈥� Antonucci said. 鈥淚n some ways, she鈥檚 my dog because she will be living with me and I will take care of her, but in other ways she is here for the community, so we want the community to be involved.鈥�