Sybil, the cat, greets any visitors to International House, an undergraduate house on Wheaton College’s campus, with a gentle sniff and curious gaze. She brings laughter and entertainment to the house’s eight residents with her playtime “zoomies,” and she stars in 90% of their shared photo album. Sybil even attended the “Trunk or Treat” event with the residents last Halloween — dressed as a cool cat gangster.
But beyond spreading joy as the unofficial “house mascot,” Sybil plays another important role to a Wheaton student. Magnolia Smoak, a senior English writing major, brought Sybil to campus in the fall to serve as her emotional support animal (ESA).
Unlike trained service animals, ESAs can be any animal that provides emotional support and companionship to a person with a disability. At Wheaton, ESAs like Sybil help students with mental health challenges by providing a comforting relationship, establishing a self-care routine and bringing joyful social opportunities.
Smoak said Sybil’s presence has “made this year the best year on campus” for her.
This semester, 10 ESAs live on campus, according to Learning and Accessibility Services (LAS) Director Melissa Norton. The college’s ESA population, typically averaging 15 animals, has currently or previously included cats, dogs, rabbits, a hamster, a tortoise and even a parrot.
“If a student has chronic depression or anxiety, a lot of times an ESA can help mitigate some of those barriers … through the presence of that animal that’s providing comfort, love, peace and a relationship,” Norton said.
As personal companions, ESAs also differ from the trained therapy animals, like dogs and horses, which occasionally visit Wheaton’s campus for events like De-Stress Fest and Disability Awareness Week. The college invites certified pet-handler teams from groups like Pawsitive Therapy Troupe to bring heartwarming canine comfort to campus.
The protection of assistance animals under the 1968 Fair Housing Act means that, while ordinary house pets are prohibited in campus housing, personal ESAs can live with students upon approval from LAS.
LAS works with individual students to determine if an ESA will suit their situation well. Once the office receives a letter from a psychiatrist or family doctor officially recommending an ESA for a student, LAS can approve the accommodation.
The next steps require students to sign a “care and keeping” contract while Residence Life checks with the student’s roommates or dorm neighbors for concerns, such as allergies. Finally, Housing Services issues a door magnet to notify maintenance staff and passersby of the animal’s presence.
Smoak began considering an ESA for herself after receiving an anxiety diagnosis in early 2024. Her family had adopted Sybil several years prior, right before the pandemic, and Sybil made a steadfast companion for Smoak during the stress of lockdown.
Smoak’s doctor helped her start the process of approving Sybil for campus life right before the 2024 fall semester. Since the process took about one month, Smoak wished she started earlier. She described how the process of approval weighed on her mental health. “ having to prove that I had it hard enough,” she said.
For students without a pre-established relationship with an animal, Norton recommends summer as a good transition period for finding a new ESA.
Senior psychology and German major Claire Haskell adopted her dog, named Wednesday, at the beginning of last summer.
Although Haskell picked an adult dog who was already housebroken, she used her summer to start training Wednesday in specific assistance tasks, like deep pressure therapy. Haskell applied her background working on farms with therapeutic animals to train Wednesday.
“She will notice when I’m not doing well mentally, and she will come and stand on my chest,” said Haskell. “The pressure really helps you to reset your nervous system and calm down.”
Sybil offers a similar physiological benefit to her owner. “I have very physical symptoms of anxiety that manifest through chest pain,” Smoak said. Sybil helps by lying on Smoak’s chest, like a “personal weighted blanket.”
“ calms and regulates me.” Smoak also mentioned how medical researchers have found possible links between cats’ purring and human health benefits, such as bone healing properties.
Along with physical comfort, ESAs can help fight feelings of loneliness. Mei Depoe, a freshman majoring in anthropology integrated with Christian formation and ministry, said that her emotional support cat, Nessie, makes a great companion for study breaks and the long days she spent inside when sick with the flu.
Junior psychology major Marie Fundora, who also lives with her cat, Geba, in Williston Hall, said, “She makes my dorm feel like home — like a safe space.”
The positive presence of an ESA does not come without challenges. Caring for an animal on campus can be difficult for busy college students. As an Arena Theater participant, Smoak occasionally relies on her housemates for help feeding Sybil.
Yet, at the same time, students with mental health conditions can also benefit from the routine of caring for an ESA. “ gives me an excuse to go back and reorient myself,” Smoak said.
Haskell explained how Wednesday requires her to go outside for walks, and her feeding schedule helps Haskell remember to eat and sleep. “Taking care of her reminds me of all the things that I need to do to take care of myself,” she said.
Beyond the responsibility of care, the space limitations of dorm rooms also make life with an ESA more difficult. Brystin Ledebur, a junior history major, and her cat, Lollipop, live in an Evans Hall single. “Cats are very curious creatures. They’re very exploratory. They need space, and there’s just not much of that.”
Misunderstanding reactions from other students have also caused pain for some ESA owners. Despite many people’s appreciation for animals, Ledebuhr said she has felt judged for bringing her cat to Wheaton. She has overheard people making hurtful comments. “Typically along the lines of, ‘I only brought my cat here because I want attention’ or ‘I’m using my pet to sit on a pedestal,’” she said.
Despite receiving some negativity, though, ESAs can create joyful moments with others. “Most people’s reaction is just complete delight,” said Smoak.
Ledebhur brought her cat to campus, in part, to share the emotional support with friends and neighbors. If let into the dorm hallway, Lollipop will often sense when another resident is having a hard day and paw at her door for a visit.
Geba the cat has helped Fundora meet new people. Fundora, a transfer student, introduced Geba to her dorm floor through a GroupMe message during the first week of class, encouraging neighbors to stop by and meet the two of them.
At the beginning of the academic year, Haskell found that college students missing their family pets — freshmen especially — loved to meet Wednesday for some much-needed tail wags and dog kisses.
“Somebody will be having a terrible day, and then they’ll stop and hold her for a minute, and it helps, which makes me happy,” Haskell said. “She has no hesitancy to come up to anyone and just be friendly. I find that’s a wonderful interruption to your own thoughts.”
For students considering an ESA for themselves, Norton and current ESA owners emphasize the responsibility aspect. “Be mindful of the level of care an animal needs,” Fundora said.
But for those who can handle it, and who the calming presence of a patient furry friend could help, Depoe said that “the benefits outweigh the challenges.”
Most importantly, the students recommend self-advocacy. Ledebuhr encouraged people to be proactive about explaining their needs to LAS and Housing Services, and for those who haven’t yet explored mental health treatment, Haskell urged struggling students to share their symptoms with a doctor. “Once you start the conversation, the rest of the process is easier.”
Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety often constrain life for college students, hindering their ability to enjoy relationships, feel peace and care for themselves consistently. But ESAs like Wednesday, Sybil, Lollipop, Geba and Nessie are helping students fight those barriers — one paw-step at a time.
