Off The Cuff: Andrew Mazurkie

Dec. 20, 2019

Our CCRI faculty and staff are a diverse group with many fascinating hobbies and interests that keep them busy during their free time off campus. Welcome to Off the Cuff. Every other week, we'll profile a member of our CCRI family to find out what makes them tick. Hopefully, their stories inspire others and help us develop new connections and friendships with our CCRI colleagues.

Having served in The Gulf War as a member of the United States Army in the early 1990s, Adjunct Biology Professor Andrew Mazurkie dealt with issues facing most military veterans upon his return to civilian life. A graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine and Rhode Island resident for the past 18 years, Mazurkie was prescribed medication to help calm his symptoms, but wanted to find a more natural approach.

He worked with Veterans Affairs to obtain an emotional support animal (ESA), an assistance animal that helps alleviate a symptom or effect of a person’s disability. ESAs have become more common in recent years. Mazurkie’s ESA, a 6 ½-year-old English Boxer, follows him everywhere he goes, even in the classroom at CCRI.

If you’ve roamed the halls on the third floor of the Knight Campus, chances are you’ve seen Mazurkie walking side-by-side with Mr. Tibbs, who has helped his owner deal with the effects of his PTSD in addition to helping students in the classroom whenever they feel overwhelmed with their schoolwork. This week, we sat down with Mazurkie to learn more about Mr. Tibbs and how ESAs are beginning to frequent classroom settings on a regular basis.

How long has Mr. Tibbs been a part of your family and how has he helped you?

I have had him for three and a half years. Boxers are an excellent breed for an Emotional Support Animal because they are “leaners” – they lean in to their bonded person. This provides the grounding a person suffering from PTSD or anxiety needs. The dog acts as a touchstone for their person. Unlike service animals and therapy animals, which are trained to exhibit one or more non-species or interact with a wide range of different people, an ESA provides support for just one person. While there are no training standards or guidelines for an ESA, Mr. Tibbs is highly trained. He was recommended to me by the VA as a part of my PTSD treatment regimen, and has completed the AKC Canine Good Citizenship course, which is very demanding. He is calm in the sometimes-chaotic environment of the college hallways and does not react to other animals.

Since bringing him to CCRI, how has he benefitted your students?

Mr. Tibbs has been a tremendous asset for the vast majority of my students. I recognize that not all students are comfortable around dogs, and that some people have allergies, so I always send out an email before the semester starts to introduce Mr. Tibbs and explain his role for me and in the class. I invite any students with concerns to let me know so I can do everything possible to make the student comfortable. It makes a big difference that while I am lecturing or teaching a lab, Mr. Tibbs stays at the front of the room. He does not wander the classroom or lab. The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Most are thrilled that he is in the classroom and they look forward to seeing him. I teach Biology and many of my students are trying to get into very competitive programs like nursing or dental hygiene. They are under a great deal of stress, especially during this time of the semester. They will sometimes ask if they can get a hug from Mr. Tibbs (which he is thrilled to provide) or just sit quietly with him to calm down and gather their thoughts. I have found that Mr. Tibbs’ presence in the classroom is a tremendous student asset. The students get him Christmas gifts and bake him treats! I am certain he has made the learning experience better for many students. They even follow him on Instagram! 

ESAs are becoming more widely, but there are still some barriers. What are the biggest roadblocks toward gaining more mainstream acceptance?

The biggest barrier in the classroom, and in society in general, is the lack of guidelines for training, no certification requirements and, frankly, people who just want their pet with them all the time and figure if they claim it is an ESA, that will do the trick. It sometimes surprises people that those of us who really need the help of an ESA generally support a training requirement as we are the ones who suffer when unruly animals cause havoc in public. I mentioned before that Mr. Tibbs has gone through a great deal of training, but that is by no means typical. 

Given the various debates on this topic, what would you say is the biggest benefit of an ESA both in and out of the classroom?

There is still a lot of concern from some people about ESA’s in the classroom, so I try to make these concerns into teachable moments. Once people meet Mr. Tibbs and see him in action – or lack thereof, as he usually sleeps, and snores, while I lecture – their concerns go away. And the benefits are undeniable. The vast majority of students are happy that Mr. Tibbs is there. He has even helped a few people during particularly stressful times. During one lab final exam, I was helping some students with one of the exercises. I happened to look over at the front of the room and saw one student sitting exhaustedly, after having finished the exam, on the floor idly stroking Mr. Tibbs. He was helping her relax after a difficult test. His presence helps to relieve a lot of tension students feel, even if they don’t go up to him. Just seeing him sitting calmly helps a great deal.

What more needs to be done to help others understand the importance of ESAs?

There is a real need for training requirements, certification and a public education campaign so people can learn the vital role ESAs play for people with disabilities such as PTSD and anxiety. That’s why I always try to answer people’s questions about ESAs and my experience with PTSD. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that my emotional support animal is so incredibly awesome! 

We would love to hear your story, too! Email us at [email protected] if you’d like to be featured in a future edition of “Off the Cuff” or want to nominate a co-worker.

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