BARK UBCO

We've had a wonderful few days with not one, but TWO opportunities to meet new UBC Okanagan students. The best bit? We've still got another session this week! Join us in EME 1123 from 4:30-6pm on Friday!

Here are just a few highlights of the Jumpstart Well-being Fair and the Create Showcase! Huge thank you to all of our volunteer handler-dog teams and student volunteers for making these two events possible.

📷: Freya Green Photography
🐶: Mac, Cookie, Zora, Murphy, Abby, Dash, Zoe, Cali, Coal, Helen, Cali and Luna

BIG NEWS! Session dates for our VEDA Kelowna sessions on Mondays, BARK2GO on Wednesdays, and Friday Drop-Ins are out! We can't wait to see everyone at sessions starting next week!

https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2024/08/30/ubco-experts-provide-tips-for-heading-back-to-school/

UBCO experts provide tips for heading back to school - UBC Okanagan News Helpful tips to ensure those first days are a success for everyone

Did you know the B.A.R.K. website has a news section?! Keep up with all of our latest events and stories on our website (bark.ok.ubc.ca) and read stories like this one!

https://bark.ok.ubc.ca/2024/08/12/oh-my-d-o-g-for-the-love-of-acronyms/

Oh my D.O.G.: For the love of acronyms What’s in a name? As the popularity of animal-assisted activities, education, and therapy continues to grow, so too has the spread of terms and acronyms, leading to some confusion in the field amongst researchers, practitioners and the public.

Hot off the press! Want to know more about our recent paper examining the terminology and acronyms used in human-animal interactions published at ? Freya talked to Dr. Lori Kogan (Chair of Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin and Editor of -Animal Interactions Journal) this morning - check out their podcast!

https://www.human-animal-interaction.org/podcast/freya-green-2/

Congratulations again to authors Freya Green, Mikaela Dahlman, Arielle Lomness, and John-Tyler Binfet!

Freya Green - Human-Animal Interaction Freya Green is a researcher and program coordinator for the Building Academic Retention through K9s (B.A.R.K.) program at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. Freya’s primary research focus is to understand the impact of canine-assisted interventions on the well-being of univers...

Hot off the Press! We're thrilled to announce that our paper "For the love of acronyms: An analysis of terminology and acronyms used in AAI research 2013–2023" which was recently presented at has now been published in Human-Animal Interactions! Congratulations to Freya Green, Mikaela Dahlman, Arielle Lomness, and John-Tyler Binfet!

For the love of acronyms: An analysis of terminology and acronyms used in AAI research 2013–2023 | Human-Animal Interactions Abstract The involvement of animals to assist or facilitate activities, education, or therapy has become increasingly popular. As we recognize animals’ roles in ameliorating well-being and educational outcomes, researchers and programmers are developing ...

: For our final day of the conference we were treated to a wonderful trip to Sudeley Castle to learn more about the history of the Estate and their innovative co-existence project!

ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology

: Congratulations to Mikaela Dahlman and Freya Green on presenting their work on Acronyms and Terminology used in AAI research!

ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology

We’ve had a wonderful day already at the conference in Hartpury, England! Congratulations to Drs Binfet and Rousseau, Freya Green, and Amelia Willcox on presenting today!

Hartpury
ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology

: Last but not least! Join us on Saturday, June 29 for our presentation For the Love of Acronyms: Identifying the Range of Terminology Used in Animal-Assisted Interventions! We'll be presenting in the Development of New Tools session from 1-2:40pm ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology!

: Poster Alert! Join us in Poster Session A for Dr. Rousseau's paper on Pups Uplifting Public Speaking at the ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology conference on Friday June 28 from 11-12:30pm.

: The countdown continues with our paper on assessing therapy dog-handler teams! Join us on Friday morning for the Canine AAS session from 10:40-12:10pm at the ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology conference.

: We're counting down the days to the ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology conference in Hartpury, England! First up, we have our presentation on reducing loneliness in a post-secondary context on Friday, June 28th in the Canine AAS session!

Check out this article by Ubyssey!

UBCO’s B.A.R.K. program reduces student stress with canine assisted interventions Amid the stressful flurry of academic life, UBCO’s Building Academic Retention Through K9s (B.A.R.K.) program offers a potential solution: support dogs.

Two weeks to go! In less than two weeks members of the B.A.R.K. team will be travelling to Hartpury, England to attend (and present at) the ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology conference! Watch this space for updates!

On behalf of everyone at B.A.R.K., we want to take a moment to congratulate all of the UBC Okanagan students graduating this week! You have all worked tremendously hard and this is a huge accomplishment, especially as many of you had to transition to remote-learning and back again during your degrees. We are delighted to see so many of you celebrating this huge milestone and wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

We have lots of B.A.R.K. friends, family, and supporters graduating this week, but want to take this opportunity to say a extra special 'congratulations' to our graduating B.A.R.K. volunteers: Amelia Willcox BSc, Dr. Camille Rousseau, Meg Allan BSc, and Hugo Tanade BMgt! Collectively, these students have contributed over 20 years to the B.A.R.K. program, for which we extend our sincere gratitude. We're thrilled to see them launch into their careers or further degrees, but admit that we'll miss them too! Help us wish them well by commenting below!

What are the benefits of dogs in college classrooms? What considerations should be taken into account when introducing therapy dogs on campus? Interested to learn more? Check our Dr. Binfet's latest Psychology Today article!

Dogs on the Roster in College Classrooms Personal Perspective: What are the benefits of dogs in college classrooms?

B.A.R.K. ambassadors Henry and Frances had a wonderful time presenting at the 2024 ABCDE Teacher Education Roundtable. This years' theme was K9s, Kindness, and Collaboration and our very own Dr. Binfet was the keynote speaker!

The Roundtable, hosted by UBC Okanagan School of Education, brought together deans, educators and administrators from BC teacher education programs: Thompson Rivers University, Trinity Western University, University of BC, University of the Fraser Valley, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and Vancouver Island University.

Photo Credit: Freya G

We've got our last BARK-VEDA Kelowna session this evening from 6-7pm! Come along to the Apex Clubroom for the perfect chance to de-stress during finals season, hang out with peers, and take a positive brain-break!

🐶: Hana
📷: Freya G

We had a wonderful time at the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies' CORH nature-themed stress-buster event yesterday! We were thrilled to see so many of you come out to visit the therapy dogs for a quick de-stress before the last weeks of term!

🐶: Coal, Helen, Luna & Bear
📷: Freya

*NEW PUBLICATION ALERT* Check out the latest publication out of Texas Tech University and the B.A.R.K. lab: "Supporting animals and veterans through enrichment: An exploratory study on a brief canine socializing intervention"

Supporting animals and veterans through enrichment: An exploratory study on a brief canine socializing intervention | Human-Animal Interactions Abstract Veterans pursuing post-secondary education may experience reintegration challenges and academic-related stress. To support student well-being, colleges and universities have begun to offer animal-assisted interventions (AAI); however, the ...

Join us tomorrow from 2-3pm in the Sawchuk Family Theatre!!!

CORHConnect: Communications and Rhetoric (CORH) end of term event - UBC Okanagan Events Calendar An end of semester, stress-busting event, where students from any program can drop in to experience a fun and informative day of seed-bomb making, conversation, and laughter.

BIG NEWS! We're collaborating with the Communications and Rhetoric team for CORHConnect end of term event TOMORROW (April 4th) from 11:30-3 in the Sawchuk theatre !! There will be lots of exciting things happening all afternoon, and we'll be there from 2-3pm!

Come de-stress by making seed-bombs, relaxing in our nature corner, drop in anytime starting at 11:30, stay for a visit with B.A.R.K. from 2-3pm, and enjoying some free food. Learn more about the CORH programming and capstone projects with presentations between 2:15 – 3 pm. Everyone welcome!

🐶: Chloe
📷: Freya G

We're taking a little break from sessions later this week but don't worry, we still have plenty of opportunities to hang out with the BARK dogs coming up!

- TONIGHT: VEDA Kelowna-BARK session 6-7pm, Apex Clubroom
- APRIL 4th: Special event to be announced soon!
- APRIL 10th: BARK2Go, 2-3:30pm, EME, UNC, LIB
- APRIL 15th: VEDA-BARK session, 6-7pm, Apex Clubroom
- APRIL 17th: Exam Special BARK2Go, 2-3:30pm, UBC Okanagan Library

🐶: Opal & Zoe
📷: Freya G

It's our last drop-in of the semester tonight (don't worry, we have plenty of other sessions coming up)! Join us in EME 1123 (4:30-6pm) for a lovely evening with the B.A.R.K. crew!

Join us this afternoon for BARK2Go in the EME, Library, and UNC buildings! It's the perfect chance to spend time with the B.A.R.K. dogs, chat to our lovely handlers, and de-stress in the middle of the week! We'll see you from 2-3:30pm!

🐶: Chloe (and handler Linda)
📷: Freya G

ATTN: UBC Okanagan! We've got another lovely week planned with BARK2Go on Wednesday (2-3:30pm; UNC, EME, LIB) and our last drop-in of the semester on Friday (4:30-6pm in EME 1123). We can't wait to see you!

🐶: Opal
📷: Freya G

Join us for BARK2Go tomorrow from 2-3:30pm in EME, UNC, and LIB! We're looking forward to hanging out with you between classes!

🐶: Cali
📷: Freya G

Have you missed us while we took some time off around reading break? We have a drop-in session starting in an hour in EME 1123! Join us from 4:30-6pm today!

🐶: Hana
📷: Madisyn S

It's BARK Drop-in day! Join us this evening in EME 1123 for an evening of cuddles with your favourite campus canines! We'll be there from 4:30-6pm.

🐶: Dewey
📷: Freya G