A retirement centre in Kelowna will have some furry friends visiting on Valentine's Day.
Student volunteers, therapy dogs and their handlers from UBC Okanagan’s Building Academic Retention Through K9’s (B.A.R.K.) program will be stopping by the Missionwood Retirement Resort on Feb. 14 from 3-4 pm.
Photo Credit: UBCO
The idea is to bring therapy dogs to mingle with the residents during a time that can be lonely for some.
B.A.R.K. is a dog therapy program run under the direction of the Okanagan School of Education’s Dr. John-Tyler Binfet.
The program brings together university students and trained therapy dogs and handlers in an effort to reduce stress, combat homesickness, foster interpersonal connections and promote the overall social-emotional wellbeing of students.
This is the second time B.A.R.K. is hosting a session at a retirement centre after a two-year hiatus due to pandemic-related visiting limitations.
B.A.R.K. is supported by UBCO’s Associate Vice-Principal, Students’ Office, the Okanagan School of Education and VEDA Exclusive Student Living. These sponsors help make B.A.R.K. programming and research possible.
For more information about B.A.R.K., visit here.
