Hudson is a very busy dog, not only is he a therapy dog who is used in the Student Health Center, he has helped raise money for animal shelters.

On Monday a group of students from a social psychology class set up on the sidewalk outside the library to raise money for the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority.

According to the organization’s website the group was established in 1975, and that “SEAACA is committed to providing programs for the caring of abandoned and unwanted pets, reuniting lost pets with their families and matching new homes for adoptable pets.” (http://bit.ly/842Z0r)

Psychology major Delmy Rodriguez said that the group had to choose an organization to raise funds for, and that they felt that animal shelters were underrepresented.

“We chose SEEACA, because I believe animals are the most forgotten… because everyone gives fund to donate to women’s battered shelter, or situations like that.”

Rodriguez explained that Hudson was there to help attract students to the group’s booth and show how a dog adopted from a shelter can help people.

“It gives people incentive to donate because they get to see what kind of animals that are in the animal shelter. It kind of tugs at people’s hearts.”

Hillary Mennella, Hudson’s owner and a nurse practitioner at the Student Health Center, says that having therapy dogs at the center has been helpful for patients.

While Mennella has owned Hudson for seven years she started bringing him to the center two months ago and he has already had an effect on patients.

“Basically (Hudson is) there to provide comfort for the patients. We don’t force the dog in the room if they don’t like animals.

For example (the Student Health Center) had a patient last week who was having a panic attack and she was really upset and was crying. She was OK with having a dog during the visit and he went right up to her and calmed her down, (until) she stopped crying,” Mannella said.