A therapy dog at UCSF Fresno is making a difference for students and staff, offering comfort and stress relief during busy academic days.<\/p>\n
Jillian, a therapy K-9, joined the campus earlier this year through a wellness mini grant. Since then, she has become a familiar and welcomed presence, walking through campus twice a week and appearing during monthly wellness events.<\/p>\n
“She has made a huge difference. Absolutely! I mean, she is incredible from the get-go,” said Dr. Jose Barral Sanchez, vice dean at UCSF Fresno.<\/p>\n
Jillian works alongside her handler, Public Safety Services Supervisor Tom Johnson, who is also her owner and adopted her as a rescue dog.<\/p>\n
“She’s my baby. She’s our family pet,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n
He described her calm demeanor and natural inclination to interact with people.<\/p>\n
“She’s very calm and she generally seeks people out and really, really does a good job of making them feel seen,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n
During her visits, Jillian draws students and staff away from their routines, offering a brief moment of relief and connection.<\/p>\n
Barral Sanchez said her presence has been particularly helpful for students facing academic pressures.<\/p>\n
“She’s just a joy to have around. Our students find that when they’re preparing for their exams or their different activities, she helps a lot with stress, you know, allowing them to take their mind off their worries,” he said.<\/p>\n
Students say the impact is immediate. Aditya Dwivedi, a UCSF SJV PRIME student, said seeing Jillian after an exam brightened his day.<\/p>\n
“I just came out of a practice board exam, so first thing and I saw her. It kind of brought a smile to me after that, so it’s definitely nice to see her out on campus and always coming around for some pets and belly rubs,” Dwivedi said.<\/p>\n
Known affectionately by the nickname “Jilly Bean,” Jillian has become a campus favorite. For some, Jillian’s presence also carries a personal connection.<\/p>\n
“She looks a lot like my dog, who I used to call Kushi, which means happiness in my language. It’s kind of how she is, kind of gives us happiness every time we run into her,” Dwivedi said.<\/p>\n
Jillian has American Kennel Club [AKC] Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog certifications at Off Leash K9 Training in Fresno. She is working toward advanced certification. On campus, however, her impact is already clear – bringing moments of calm, comfort and joy to those who meet her.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Danyelle Burke North on Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n