New this year, the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine has begun to initiate a new team member into an important role: a dedicated, in-training facility dog named Appa from Canines for Change to serve as wellbeing support to faculty, staff, and students.

Appa joined the College in January at five months of age. He was purposefully bred to be a facility dog and spent his first several months with a dedicated puppy raiser, receiving early neurological stimulation and socialization with various sights, sounds, people, and animals. His ongoing formal training includes weekly classroom instruction at the Canines for Change training facility and real-world experiences at training facilities and on-site locations with field liaisons, with his primary handler, Jessica Ricker, LLMSW, of the Veterinary Medical Center's Veterinary Social Work Service.

As a facility dog, Appa will promote a positive environment, foster wellbeing, and enhance engagement by representing the College at events and outreach programs. In training until he is about a year old, he has begun his career by visiting campus a few times a week. He's been busy in his first weeks with paws on the ground. His handler recaps:

"So far, we've done spontaneous visits to locations around the College. We visited second-year students as they studied, greeted administration staff in the Dean's Office, wandered the Veterinary Medical Center, attended the DVM student clinics orientation, visited the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Our biggest adventure yet: the White Coat Ceremony!"

He has made friends everywhere he has gone.

"Appa knows his assignment and enjoys the pets and attention he's been getting," says Ricker. "He's had many comments about how big his paws are and how much growing he has done! He's a six-month baby with a big personality."

Ricker also shares some Appa facts:

• Appa will not be learning "shake." This is to prevent him developing the habit of pawing at people.
• His favorite toys are his Chuckit! Balls and anything with a crinkle noise.
• He loves the snow and digging his head through snowbanks.
• Appa was named by his puppy raisers after the beloved flying sky bison from the Nickelodeon TV show "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
• He enjoys car rides and meeting other dogs—he's always looking for friends!
• He's curious, in-tune, and always ready for his next adventure.