Newell is proud of ISU’s Press Paws dog therapy

4/2/2025

Whether he is transferring abandoned shelter dogs on airplanes, taking his dog, Jake, to college to help students de-stress, or simply allowing school kids to cuddle with a pet, it is all about the dogs.

Jay Newell, a dog lover his entire life (he even took two dogs on his honeymoon), adopted Jake from the Story County Animal Shelter. An abandoned Jake spent three months in a shelter until Newell adopted him.

Newell was a professor at Iowa State Greenlee School of Journalism. He heard students were taking Jake on car rides, and he began bringing Jake to the Parks Library at ISU. 

“Students came to pet him and unwind from studying. They couldn’t get enough of him,” he said.

He had Jake tested by the ARL for the TheraPets program. The dog was well-trained and tested to “not be a jerk around people.” 

“A therapy dog has to be good around people 100% of the time. It’s not a service dog,” he said. “When I put on his bandana and harness, he knows it’s going to be a good day.”

Newell established Barks and Parks in the Parks Library at ISU. Working with university officials, he created one of the first pet therapy college programs in the U.S. 

The Press Paws therapy room is run by the Greenlee School of Journalism. Students come from campus to pet dogs. 

“It’s one of the few times faculty, staff and students act as normal people,” he said.

Other dogs are also certified to do therapy. 

“It was one of the last things I did as a faculty member,” he said. “I’m glad to see it get started. It’s nice to see something of lasting value from my time at ISU.” 

When he retired from ISU, he searched for things to do. As an avid pilot, he belongs to a flying club that owns airplanes. 

Combining his love of dogs with flying, he began transporting shelter dogs who needed homes in a Pilots N Paws program four years ago. Various U.S. regions have an oversupply of sheltered pets, yet some have an undersupply. Newell volunteers his plane and flying time to pick up three or four crates containing dogs and transporting them to animal shelters. For example, a flight from Texas containing dogs might change planes in Ankeny with dogs ending up in Milwaukee.

Pilots N Paws is a nonprofit established in 2008. Since then, the organization has flown 200,000 animals. Pilots volunteer their planes and time. 

“Pilots like flying around anyway,” he said. “We don’t need an excuse to fly.”

Dogs enjoy the ride or go to sleep during the flight. 

“A rescue dog might say, ‘I’m in a safe place now. I’m being taken care of, and I’m in good company,’ ” he said.

Jake said he is honored to have dogs in his life. 

“When I see these interactions with dogs, they provide peace, charm and fun. Dogs know how to see people at their best. It’s a wonderful moment to be a part of that,” Newell said. n