Meet Hoonah: Best Friend and Therapy Dog

Weighing in at roughly 100 pounds, Hoonah is a sweet-faced dog who loves treats, connecting with students and soaking up a little extra attention from her favorite colleagues around campus.

Soon, the 6-year-old Newfoundland and golden retriever mix will be working as a therapy dog on the Eastern Washington University campus alongside owner Samantha Armstrong Ash, EWU’s associate vice president of wellbeing and support services and dean of students.

Hoonah and Armstrong Ash recently completed six months of dedicated work alongside a private trainer to prepare for therapy work and are now ready to bring comfort, connection and a little stress relief to students and employees.

Her training will be ongoing, Armstrong Ash says, “to reinforce the skills and calm temperament that are important for this kind of work.”

Hoonah’s role as a therapy dog is distinct from that of a service animal. Unlike service animals, which are individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, therapy dogs are trained to interact with and provide comfort to multiple people. Hoonah’s role at EWU is centered on connection, stress reduction and supporting wellbeing through voluntary interactions with members of the campus community.

While Hoonah is happy to make new friends, interacting with her is always a choice. Her campus visits are intentionally coordinated to create opportunities for those who want to spend time with her while respecting those who do not. Visits will take into consideration allergies, accessibility needs, fear or discomfort around dogs, and individual preferences, helping ensure Hoonah can be a positive addition to campus without creating an expectation that everyone engage with her.

The brown dog with a bearish gait elicited smiles from students who stopped to visit her when she appeared in the main entryway of the Pence Union Building.

Anna Bucklin, an incoming freshman from Spokane Valley who plans to study social work, already knew about Hoonah after following Armstrong Ash’s popular @DOSEWU Instagram page.

“I see posts of her all the time. She’s so big and cuddly,” Bucklin says. “It’s nice to come into the building and see a dog [and think] ‘oh, cute let me pet them.’ It’s like a mood-booster, I would say for sure.”

Armstrong Ash personally funded and dedicated her time to Hoonah’s training, working under a memorandum of understanding so the university incurs no financial cost or liability. The initiative was strongly supported by Student Affairs officials and went through a vetting process based on existing University processes and protocols.

Newfoundlands are recognized for their gentle nature and water-rescue pedigree—complete with webbed feet and heavy double coats. While Hoonah is a large dog, her working-breed instincts drive her desire to connect with people and fulfill a purpose.

Armstrong Ash says Hoonah’s gentle demeanor is a good fit because therapy dogs must be able to sit with people, to be calm, to help other people regulate and be calm.”

Lea Jarnagin, EWU’s vice president for student affairs, is a big fan of dogs. A dog owner herself, Jarnagin appreciates the difference they can make for people.

Jarnagin points to research showing that interacting with dogs can lower blood pressure and reduce stress levels. That grounding presence is particularly valuable on a college campus, where students can navigate academic pressure, personal anxiety or grief at times.

Having witnessed some of those student-pet interactions firsthand, it’s not surprising that Jarnagin supported the addition of a trained therapy dog and handler as another resource within EWU’s broader approach to student wellbeing.

Armstrong Ash has seen the impact of animal-assisted support firsthand. With university permission, her previous Newfoundlands occasionally came to campus during periods of high stress or following difficult student losses. A younger Hoonah also participated in some of those visits.

Armstrong Ash noticed that students who were hesitant to engage directly with a staff member during a difficult moment would sometimes readily sit down beside a dog. That simple interaction could provide a point of connection and help to open the door to a conversation and additional support.

To help Hoonah become comfortable with the sights, sounds and activity of a university environment, Armstrong Ash brought her to campus regularly over the summer for structured acclimation visits. Faculty and staff who welcomed visits helped Hoonah learn that campus is a place to settle, remain calm and engage appropriately with people.

“She has definitely figured out which of her campus friends keep treats nearby,” Armstrong Ash says. “For her, that’s a pretty effective way to make friends.”

During her campus visits, Hoonah can often be found rejuvenating (napping) in the Student Affairs Administrative Suite, on the third floor of the PUB, visiting students in the PRIDE and Multicultural centers, and making appearances at EWU women’s soccer games and other events.

EWU Counseling and Wellness Services, which already works with Pet Partners to bring therapy dogs to campus during high-stress periods, such as finals week, is working on a plan to integrate Hoonah into its programming. The team plans to create a dedicated email address where individuals or groups can request a visit or schedule time with her.

Hoonah’s role is intended to complement, rather than replace, EWU’s existing wellbeing and support resources. Most of her work will take place through scheduled programs, requested visits and designated spaces, although she may occasionally accompany Armstrong Ash elsewhere on campus. As the program develops, EWU will continue to evaluate how Hoonah is utilized, where her presence is most helpful, and how the program can operate successfully within a campus community with a wide range of needs and preferences.

Hoonah’s presence does not change EWU’s expectations for animals in university workplaces or facilities. Her role was established through an approval process that includes specialized training, ongoing work with her handler, and expectations for her campus engagement. Those interested in incorporating a therapy animal into university programming should work through the appropriate university process before bringing an animal to campus.

“I hope Hoonah brings a little joy and connection to campus. Sometimes it’s a student, faculty or staff member stopping for a hug, someone taking a quick break in their day, or simply seeing her across the PUB and smiling We know interacting with a dog isn’t something everyone will want to do, and that’s completely okay. For those who do want that connection, I hope Hoonah can make their day just a little bit better.”

Until Hoonah’s email is up, people are encouraged to reach out via the @DOSEWU Instagram direct message to connect and see where she may be on campus.