Myko “Mykonos” Frisiras turns five!

Photo courtesy of the Suny Geneseo website

Myko is the cutest boy and he brings so much joy to students! Make sure you keep an eye out for Myko's next event so you have an opportunity to give him some belly rubs!

Last Friday, Mar. 27, was Myko “Mykonos” Frisiras’s fifth birthday (though he is around three at heart). Myko is an American Yellow Lab therapy dog who frequents campus with his owner Karie Frisiras, who is an Administrative Assistant for the Office of Diversity and Equity. Frisiras threw a birthday party for Myko in the MacVitte College Union lobby on his birthday, including a photobooth, cupcakes and other treats, and a large poster on which students wrote birthday wishes to Myko.

Myko joined the Frisiras family at only 12 weeks old from an Albany breeder. Karie Frisiras said that “[h]e was the ‘runt’ of the litter, just a tiny little guy,” which is shocking to hear  if you have ever met Myko in person. Myko’s unique name was a result of the Frisiras family being Greek, leading them to choose the Greek name “Mykonos” after “one of the most beautiful, popular islands in Greece.” 

Myko spent a year and a half training to become a therapy dog, including training with groups of other dogs, classes, one-on-one time, and in public locations. He learned how to be the chill pup he is today from K’s Canine Inc. in Dansville, with Frisiras noting Myko “caught on very quickly in training.” 

When asked what Frisiras’s favorite part of bringing Mykos to campus was, she said, “I love how much joy Myko brings to the students, faculty, [and] staff. It’s especially rewarding to witness the comfort that Myko brings to those that are having a bad day. Myko will lean his entire body into the person and lay his head in their lap as if giving them a hug.” This writer for The Lamron can concur after attending Myko’s birthday party; Myko rested his rump on my foot, leaned his back against my leg, and asked for head scratches.

While Myko “get[s] super excited” if Frisiras asks, “‘do you want to go to the college today?’” he is also quite partial to the campus squirrels. Frisiras said that “[h]e loves to walk through offices and greet everyone,” but that she thinks his “most favorite” part about campus “is watching all of the squirrels.” Therapy dogs are still dogs after all, and who can blame Myko with the plethora of squirrels scampering across the campus? 

Besides watching squirrels through windows and on the computer—Frisiras described him as “an iPad kid”—Myko has a few other favorite “dog” things he loves. Frisiras mentioned running in the woods, swimming, chasing balls, watching Bluey (2018– ), and playing with his friends at doggie daycare, to name a few. 

This year, Myko has his very own Marketing Manager, Erin Schulz, a senior communications major with a minor in marketing. Erin saw Myko a lot when she was an intern for the Title IX Office, and so she “knew that this was an opportunity [she] wanted to go for.” Schulz earns one credit for the internship (INTD 395), but she said, “the experience I am gaining is different than anything I have ever done and so much fun!” As Myko’s Marketing Manager, Schulz is in charge of managing his social media account on Instagram at @mykoatgeneseo and plans what Myko will post, his tabling events, and making Myko flyers and stickers. Schulz’s personal end goal for Myko’s Instagram page is to see it grow, “and promote him as a resource on campus for those who need a little boost in their day, week, or even semester.”

While Myko’s birthday celebration will not occur for another year, the party was just one of many events he attends across campus! Frisiras says Myko usually “comes to campus 3 days a week, usually Monday-Wednesday,” but that his schedule varies depending on what events he will attend during the week. Anyone is able to visit Myko and Frisiras at the Office of Diversity and Equity in Doty 303, and anyone can book Myko to come to student organization meetings, campus events, or residence halls. You can email ode@geneseo.edu to book time for the sweetest pup!