It is impossible to get to class without encountering a skater on the way, but those who attended the “Hug-a-Pug” event at the USC Religious Center on Thursday were in for a treat. Tito, one of the four pugs, is currently preparing for an agility training contest, and his newest companion is a real kick — a skateboard.
“We’re hoping that, in addition to skateboarding, that he’ll be able to compete in agility training,” Vanessa Gomez Brake, senior associate dean of Religious Life, said. “Pugs are very athletic and treat motivated, which is a good mix for training.”
Gomez Brake was one of two people who hosted the event. Robin Mitchell Stroud, director of student engagement programs for the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, was the other.
“We sometimes will hear people say, ‘Oh, I miss my dog,’” Stroud said. “But they’re so cute! How can you not like a little sweet pug face?”
That was right on the nose for Savannah Tweedt, a freshman studying popular music performance, who brought out a posse of pug lovers for the afternoon.
“We were talking about being hyped for this event all week,” she said.
Tweedt has a pug of her own back at home, but connecting with the pugs at the Religious Center — two of which were dressed in their sweater vests — was good enough to make missing her pets more bearable.
The event, originally called CommuniTea, was a way for students to wind down with art projects, snacks and one or two therapy dogs. But, Stroud said that when Brake adopted two pugs, it was a pug takeover and the event was renamed.
“We’ll just make it a pug party and just rename it [to] Hug-a-pug,” she said.
Not only was Gomez Brake sure everyone who came would love the event, but she said it was good for the pugs too.
“They’re just very natural at providing care,” Gomez Brake said. “The dogs absolutely love car rides, and they love attention and pets, so it’s a mutually beneficial relationship with Trojans and the pugs!”
Jasmine Guzman, a junior studying accounting, was relieved to make it just before the event ended.
“My assignments are getting crazy, so I’m overwhelmed… it just makes me feel really happy and it’s [a] dopamine high,” Guzman said.
The four four-legged friends are expected to eventually become certified therapy dogs. Even better? These events allow the pugs to enjoy the outdoors leash-free in the courtyard.
The next Hug-a-Pug event is scheduled for February 27 and recurs monthly, where Tito will once again be prepared to take on even the best of the Trojan skaters.