by Giselle Rhoden
Although students can’t bring their pets to Bellarmine, they do have a furry friend on campus they can depend on for endless playtime and joy.
Woodford is a popular pooch in the Siena Complex. He belongs to Elaine Surdyke, the Siena Complex residence life coordinator, and he has been with her since June 2019.
“I was still living in Indiana…but missing Louisville a ton. I was looking for a pup,” Surdyke said.
She said as soon as she saw that “cute, little golden doodle,” she knew he was the one. To her, it was only fitting that she named him Woodford after the bourbon that reminded her of the Kentucky she missed so much.
Since then, Surdyke and Woodford have become a familiar pair in the Siena Complex. She said the students in particular loved Woodford as soon as he arrived on campus. She said she knew she had to bring him to work with her more often, and from what she has seen, Woodford loves it.
“Being able to have him here and just bring joy to students is absolutely fantastic. It’s my favorite thing,” Surdyke said.
Sierra Petrey, a senior resident assistant, said Woodford is always happy to interact with students. “He has always had this kind of spunk,” Petrey said. “I feel drawn to him.”
Surdyke said Woodford loves to let students pet him, walk him and show off his tricks. Thanks to several YouTube videos, Surdyke has taught Woodford to sit, lie down, stay, fetch, spin, shake, hug and (a student favorite) “Go Knights.”
Woodford’s “Go Knights” trick is only one of the things that makes him a part of the Bellarmine community.
“He embodies the Bellarmine spirit 24/7,” said Lindsey Gilmore, assistant director of housing and residence life. Gilmore also said he represents the hospitality and the care for people that Bellarmine always talks about. She said she believes that Woodford makes the Bellarmine community want to be better people for each other.
Petrey said Woodford is also a very intelligent dog. She said he is so smart that he can sense when students are not feeling their best.
Surdyke agrees. “He is very intuitive, and if a student is upset in my office, he kind of climbs up in their lap and snuggles on them,” she said.
Spending a few minutes with a kind dog like Woodford could be just what a student needs, Petrey said. She also said being away at school can be rough, and students tend to miss their dogs. To her, Woodford brings some extra joy.
“That’s what students really need sometimes…dogs really change people’s feelings,” Petrey said.
Said Gilmore: “Having that sense of joy and peace and just happiness from this four-legged furry friend is just something we need at this point.”
This also contributes to what Gilmore calls Woodford’s “human-like qualities.”
“He is that bubbly student that always comes by your office to say hi, always asks how you’re doing and sometimes knows some things about your personal life…He can communicate what he needs from you, too, at the same time,” she said.
To Gilmore, Woodford brings “a sense of home.”
Said Petrey: “He is sunshine…When I see him, he brightens my day. I feel like I brighten his day.”