New Vice-Chancellor Engages with Students and Therapy Dogs at Top Dog Session

Despite his busy schedule, Prof. Petersen took the time to interact with some of the therapy dogs, even assisting one of them in performing tricks.

Anna Masemola, Modisa Khosie, Isak van der Walt, and Elsabé Olivier met Prof. Petersen for the first time and explained how much the students enjoy these sessions as a form of stress relief before exam seasons. Prof. Petersen also engaged with the students, who were surprised but pleased to see him there. He asked them why they attended the sessions, and most replied that they were dog lovers, needed a break, and missed their own pets.

All the students interviewed expressed their love for the Top Dogs therapy sessions. One student shared: 'I am an exchange student from Humboldt University. I didn't realize how much I needed this to calm down. Thank you so much for providing this unforgettable day. I love dogs, and I truly appreciate the effort in organizing this event. I hope it continues in the future.'

Another student said: 'I absolutely loved petting the dogs; they are so cute. I was having a stressful day, and this really helped. They were all so well-behaved, and I even convinced some friends who are afraid of dogs to join. By the end, they seemed much more comfortable. Thank you for bringing them!'

One thing is clear: whether you're the new Vice-Chancellor, a University of Pretoria staff member, or a student, the Top Dogs therapy dogs are extremely popular and bring joy and laughter to everyone as can be clearly seen from this reel!