After 13 years of helping students in need, a beloved counsellor at the University of the Fraser Valley is ready to retire.
A retirement party, complete with cake and some tears, was held at the university for Mac, a 15-year-old golden retriever.
Dozens of his fans and former patients crowded in to give him one last scratch behind the ear, tell him one more time what a good boy he is and how much he helped them.
He and his partner, registered clinical counsellor Dawn Holt are trained members of the Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS), with Mac holding the title of longest-serving therapy dog in the organization's history.
"He's had just an incredible career," says Holt, adding that her special partner has touched many with his calm compassion and ability to draw people out.
"We try to reduce the stigma and start the conversation about mental health. So he also works with me one-on-one in private practice and in the university setting, with students, with staff, with faculty whenever a crisis arises."
Mac and Dawn have been deployed with the BC Psychiatric Services Unit, and also participated in crisis debriefing in the community when tragic events have occurred in Abbotsford and Langley.
But his main job has been at the university giving comfort, compassion and support to students who may be dealing with a range of mental health issues to relationship struggles and stress.
And while Mac is officially hanging up his PADS working-dog vest, he'll still be lending his special calming presence on campus as a part-time volunteer with Holt, but now he'll be sporting a much more casual green UFV t-shirt instead.
"It still gives him a lot of people interaction which keeps him healthy and happy, but it also gives him a big of a break on the obedience and the stringent rules," said Holt. "He deserves a wonderful, happy, healthy retirement."
