This story coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month.

Two years ago, Davenport University welcomed a very special employee to campus, Onyx the therapy dog. In that short time, the four-year-old black Labrador Retriever has become a beloved member of the Davenport Community and has captured the hearts of faculty, staff, and students.

Brett Windsor, assistant director of Davenport’s Department of Public Safety, was instrumental in bringing Onyx to campus.

“In my previous role with the University of Michigan Health-West hospital, I witnessed people suffering from mental health crises and wanted to provide more support to those individuals in need,” said Windsor. “When I transitioned to Davenport, I responded to multiple student residents with mental health needs, so I knew our team could use a therapy dog to better connect with them and the entire Davenport community.”

Thanks to the Davenport University M.E. Legacy Endowment Fund grant, Windsor brought his therapy dog program to life by working with Paws With A Cause, an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Wayland, Michigan.

Onyx had already completed a year and a half of training when she was selected to join the Davenport family, followed by another 18 weeks of training with Windsor, so she could put her best paw forward when she arrived on campus.

Windsor said what makes Onyx special is that she can adapt her demeanor to match the students’ moods. “Some students prefer a more energetic version of Onyx, where she is standing up and passing out kisses, and some prefer her lying down in a calm manner,” he said. “She can actually judge what each person is looking for. She is a happy, excited dog who loves to meet people and be petted.”

Onyx is putting her innate talent to good use, joining Windsor on around 100 hours of community engagement this school year alone. Events have included classroom visits, freshman orientations, Davenport athletic events, new hire orientations, National Night Out, Hanger Clinic Adaptive Field Day and more. “ This was 100 hours of Onyx and the Public Safety team having conversations that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, and 100 hours of brightening peoples’ day,” said Windsor.  

One of the pair’s highlights came recently when they welcomed the West Michigan Therapy Dogs to the Academic Building on the W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus to provide emotional support to students during finals week.

According to Danielle Pipal, assistant director for Student Life, the therapy dogs have visited campus during finals week for about 10 years, and it might be one of the students’ favorite days of the year. “Having the dogs on campus provides a sense of calm to our students in a typically high-stress time,” said Pipal. “Exams are certainly stressful, and many of our students haven’t been home in a while, which adds another stress level. Seeing the dogs on campus provides a sense of safety and comfort while they are wrapping up the semester.”

For Onyx, attending these events and helping out at the Wellness Center on the Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus isn’t just another day on the job; she seems to enjoy it.

“She likes to see her friends on campus every day, loves to play fetch in the gym and roll around in the grass in the summer and the snow in the winter. She’s just an all-around great dog,” Windsor said.

“Studies have shown that interacting with pets can significantly reduce cortisol levels, which are known stress indicators,” said Windsor. “Onyx’s addition to the team gives us a tool to diffuse difficult situations and help students relax. She has already proven herself to be a valuable resource to the Davenport Community.”

You can follow Onyx’s journey on campus on Instagram (K9_Onyx).