Gerald (“Gerry”) Shreiber is a philanthropist, a proud supporter of Rowan University, and believes students can benefit greatly from time spent with dogs. Shreiber, president and CEO of J&J Snack Foods Corp. in Pennsauken, committed $3 million to establish The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program of Rowan University. Shreiber’s gift will establish an endowment to create a self-sustaining program bringing certified therapy dogs to Rowan’s Glassboro campus to support student health and well-being.

“It is a pleasure for me to give back to the community,” Shreiber said. “I can think of nothing better than (to support) our students, striving for education, complemented by therapy dogs.”

Michele Pich is the Assistant Director/Department Head of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University. She has graduate degrees in Psychology, and in Criminal Justice (with her PhD work in the Criminal Justice/Public Health/Trauma domains), and earned her graduate certificate as a Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist at the University of Denver. She brings over 14 years of experience in professional animal-assisted interventions (including animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted activities, and animal-assisted education), was a small business owner, has 23 years of experience in the mental health field (mental health counselor, veterinary grief counselor, cancer support group facilitator), 14 years experience teaching University students (including at Rowan University since 2014 in the Law & Justice Studies Department and for DEI initiatives), 19 years of experience conducting research, and a lifetime involving animal rescue. She previously co-directed a therapy animal visitation program at the University of Pennsylvania which partnered to bring visits to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Michele and her recently retired certified therapy dog, Vivian Peyton have been members of the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Ambassador Team since 2012. And, her certified therapy dog, Ralphie recently joined both the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan Unievrsity as a facility dog, and the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Ambassador Team in 2023. Michele is responsible for the development, oversight, and maintenance of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program. As part of this role, she plans and hosts the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Symposium at Rowan University annually in the Fall with her fellow host, David Frei (Host of the National Dog Show & former Host of Westminster Dog Show). For details on the symposium go to: go.rowan.edu/TherapyDogSymposium

Vivian Peyton, AKC-CGC, Certified Therapy Dog, Facility Dog (Founding DOGrector Emeritus)

Vivian Peyton (AKA, “Vivian”) has been a certified therapy dog since 2012 until her recent retirement. She is a former bait dog, that ended up in an animal shelter, emaciated and abused at a year old. She was rescued by New Leash on Life USA, an animal-assisted prison-based re-entry program where she was trained by incarcerated individuals to pass her American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Certification (CGC). Upon her prison graduation, she was adopted by our Assistant Director, Michele Pich, in early 2012 and immediately became a beloved therapy dog after being testing and passing with her owner/handler. She has visited regularly at the Philadelphia's Ronald McDonald House, several University campuses (including Rowan University), and done individual visits with breast cancer survivors. She is a popular media figure for her charming personality, interesting history, and her role as a Therapy Dog Ambassador for the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show. She has been featured in: the Philadelphia Metro, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dog Fancy Magazine, Pet Age 2.0, and has made television appearances on NBC, CBC, WMCN, Fox, and others.

Ralphie, AKC-CGC, ATD Certified Therapy Dog, Facility Dog (Associate DOGrector)

Ralphie is a a certified therapy dog with his person, Michele Pich (Assistant Director of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University).  He is also the facility dog, meaning that he works with his person in a professional capacity in her role running the program within the Wellness Center. Ralphie is also a member of the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Ambassador Team. He has even earned his Canine Good Citizen title & certification through the American Kennel Club (AKC-CGC) during his time training with Philly Unleashed (the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan university's official dog training vendor), after previously earning his AKC Puppy S.T.AR. last year. He visits all of the Rowan University campuses in Glassboro, Stratford, Sewell, Camden, and even visits the Rowan College of Burlington County, and is a fan favorite at our NFL Films visits.

Muppet (CavaPoo) & Ruth

Ruth and Muppet are wondeful dog-handler volunteer pair, just ask our Rowan students who have met them at our popular "PAWS for a break" visits at Rowan University's Glassboro campus. Muppet is a Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel & Poodle) that warms the heart of everyone he meets!

Sly (Dachshund) & Ann

Anne and Sly come to us as a therapy dog-handler volunteer pairs from Burlington County. They will be primarily visiting our students at the Rowan College of Burlington County campus in Mt. Laurel. They are a dedicated team who have done crisis response work over the years. Anne is an Alliance of Therapy Dogs tester/observer, and is helping us get some of our upcoming members certified to join the team. Sly, the dachshund, is a sweet little cuddler. 

Exon (Labrador) & Becky

Becky and Exon are member of the Shrieber Family Pet Therapy Program team and have been visiting the dorms at Rowan University. Becky also des crisis response work as a team and she is kind enough to work with us to test some of our prospective therapy dog handler pairs to get them certified. Just wait until you meet Exon, he's as sweet as they come!

Sampson (Poodle) & Casey, Rob 

Casey & Rob joined our Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Team with their adorable trio of poodles and doodles. Their sweet dogs Sampson, Sugar Magnolia, and June like to visit the Burlington County area. They are experienced therapy dog handlers and even have their own kennel and dog park for their crew to enjoy every day. Casey is also a Tester/Observer for our affiliated therapy animal certification organization, Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD).

Hudson (Golden Retriever) & Lori

Lori and Hudson are a certified therapy dog team. You may have spotted Hudson wearing his pajamas at the PJ's Puppies, and Pancakes event or perhaps at Wagging Tail Tuesdays in the Library. Wherever you've seen in, we're sure you fell in love wiht him like we did!

Cindy & Bella

Cindy and Bella are exciting members of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program. Bella is a Great Pyrenees. She brings new meaning to the phrase "the bigger the dog, the more to love!" Cindy and Bella, are known and adored in both the world of pet therapy, and in the show dog arenas. 

Baron (King Charles Cavalier Spaniel) & Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Baron are a welcome addition to our Shrieber Family Pet Therapy Team. The have visited at Rowan University at the dorms in the past, and even attended our National Dog Show Therapy Dog Symposium at Rowan University that we held this past November at Rowan University. From the moment they walked into the Wellness Center, everyone fell in love with Baron, and we know you will too when you meet him!

Tarik (German Shephard) & Nancy

Nancy and Tarik have been a fantastic therapy dog-handler pair and have joined our Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program Team. They are part of the "Paws for a Break" team that visits in student housing through coordination with Residential Learning and University Housing (RLUH). Nancy and Tarik also do crisis response therapy dog work together. Tarik has an adorable smile and a great dimeanor!

Barry & Barabara Hoffman (with their 5 dogs: Duncan, Quincy, Eli, Bear, & Peppi)

The Hoffman family (comprised of AAT providers: Barry & Barbara & their 5 beloved therapy dogs) are a Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) power house family. Their dogs include 3 Collies (Duncan, Quincy, and Eli) and a Poodle mix (Bear). The newest to join the crew is little Peppi. They provide a valuable service to our medical students. Barry Hoffman is a physiciain & professor at Rowan University SOM.

Keeta (Border Cllie/Husky mix) & Bonnie

Bonnie is a Psychology Professor and former Director of our Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Rowan University. She and her adorable rescued dog, Keeta join us as valued members of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University. They have helped us by providing animal-assisted therapy to visit with students on the Glassboro campus when they request individual and group-based pet therapy sessions through our Wellness Center. 

Amy & Jake 

You may recognize Amy as one of the founding members of the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program when she visited with her beloved Kaia in the past. Now she is back with our handsome buddy, Jake, the boxer mix. From the moment she adopted him, she knew he would make a great therapy dog. He is full of love. He has done many 1:1 visits at the Wellness Center, visited at the Testing center, the PATH program, and even helped welcome our new students to Rowan University during orinetation.

Athena (Husky) & Katherine 

Katherine is a clinical psychologist who works in private practice and worked at Rowan University for several years. She has been kind enough to share her adorable dog, Athena the Siberian Husky, with us. This duo mostly spend their time visiting the Glassboro campus of Rowan University. They have done individual visits, along with group/drop-in visits with the PATH program, the Testing Center in Savitz, and the EMS Symposium.

Rex (Labrador) & Jack

Jack is a 2-time Rowan University alumni (2 masters degrees from the College of Education!). He is a retired high school principal who is excited to re-join the Rowan community as an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) provider for the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University. They are a certified pair through our affiliated certifying organization, Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Rex did a great job in his first visit to our CMSRU medical school campus to welcome our Rowan medical school students back to campus for an exciting new year! We can't wait for Rex to come for his next visit!

Sophie (Labrador/Rottweiler mix) & Doug 

Doug and Sophie are quite the pair! Sophie is a cute & sweet yellow lab. They have visited with our medical students at the Rowan School of Osteopathis Medicine at the Sewell campus, joined us for the ribbon cutting for our upcoming Rowan School of Veterinary Medicine, and they visit at our affiliated Rowan College of Burlington County (RCBC) campus through our program's visits there. They've even joined us at the National Dog Show Therapy Dog Symposium at Rowan University. In their down time, they also volunteer doing crisis response work in the community.

Lily (Cocker Spaniel/Cavalier King Charles spaniel mix) & Sarah

We are so happy to have Sara and her therapy dog, Lily the cocker spaniel mix as part of our Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program. They have helped us welcome our new and transfer students at orientations, have visited Rowan University's Testing Center during their "Finals Feast" during final exams week, done individual sessions at the Wellness Center, and even visited with the EMT's during the EMS symposium.

Joanna Vitale & Bella Persia

Joanna has been kind enough to join our team, and share her sweet Bella Persia with us! Bella enjoys visiting our students at the affiliated Rowan College of Burlington County (RCBC) campus, where she visit the RCBC community college students & the Rowan University 3+1 students. She also visits our medical students at our Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) campus in Camden, NJ. In their free time, they also like to visit with children at local elementary schools.

Marlie (Golden Retriever) & Stuart

Marlie is one of a kind, with the coolest hairdo! Have you ever seen a Golden Retriever with a mohawk before? We're so happy that Marlie and her dad, Stuart come visit us at the Glassboro campus and at Rowan College of Burlington County.

Cinder (Labrador) & Georgeann

Cinder is an adorable Red Fox Labrador who has a lot of love to give. She's got a great smile and soft fur that is sure to make you smile. You may have met Cinder at one fo the career fairs or at "wagging Tail Wednesday" in the library, or maybe even at Organ Donor Day or during an individual session. We're so lucky that Georgeann & Cinder have chosen us to spend so much fo their time with!

Bailey & Joan, Jeff, and Diane

Bailey the mini Bernadoodle is a lucky guy! He has 3 of his people (mom, dad, and grandma) certified with him visiting as part of our therapy dog program. He trained with Ralphie, Hudson and Ellie in the therapy dog class taught by the collaboration of Shrieber Famly Pet Therapy Program  & Philly Unleashed, our dog training vendor.