After eight years of visiting Queen’s campus and greeting students and staff, Oscar the dog won’t be here to welcome students back to campus this fall.
Oscar, a therapy dog known for bringing smiles to faces across Queen’s campus, died on July 18, according to his owner John Tamkee. Oscar had squamous cell carcinoma, a malignant cancer that forms in the squamous cells of the skin.
The English cream golden retriever frequently visited busy spaces on campus, most notably Mitchell Hall, to bring comfort and companionship to Queen’s students, staff, and faculty.
Tamkee said Oscar was drawn to groups of people on campus. “If he saw a large group of people, he would pull me in that direction so he could go and say hi,” Tamkee said in an interview with The Journal.
Oscar was 10 years old and approaching his 11th birthday on Aug. 13. Tamkee brought Oscar home as a puppy on Thanksgiving Day in 2015 after the family’s move from California to Kingston. Oscar grew up alongside Tamkee, his two sons, and another golden retriever, Finn.
Oscar’s visits to Queen’s began through the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program. At the time, the program received many requests for its services, and Queen’s Health Promotion wanted to bring canine companions to campus to encourage people to leave their offices and go for walks.
Tamkee said the initiative eventually evolved into Oscar simply visiting offices to greet people rather than going for walks. Oscar visited Mitchell Hall frequently, bringing his happy hellos to anyone he encountered.
“Before COVID, I would say that he was probably there three or four times a week,” Tamkee said.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamkee said Oscar’s visits to Mitchell Hall decreased to roughly two or three times a week.
Through the Instagram page @oscarandjohn, which has received many heartfelt comments since the announcement of his passing, his memory and the impact he had on the Queen’s community have continued on.
Many commenters shared photos and stories about the lives Oscar touched around campus. One commenter mentioned Oscar’s impact on their daughter at Queen’s, saying their “days were immensely brightened by seeing Oscar and sharing a cuddle.”
Juan Manuel Toro Toro, ArtSci ’24, MPH ’26, often thinks of Oscar and the welcoming presence he provided, particularly when reflecting on his master’s degree. Having first met Oscar during his fifth year of undergraduate studies, Toro Toro remembers the calm, friendly dog whose wagging tail often eased feelings of loneliness.
Looking back on the final year of his undergraduate and master’s degree, once friends had left, Toro Toro said Oscar consistently brought him comfort.
“I was always by myself,” he said. “But obviously, if I walked and saw an old friend, Oscar, I connected with him again.”
Tamkee also remembers his interactions with students and some of the unique requests he received. Several students asked if they could accompany Oscar on his walks, while others asked if they could book time to spend with him.
One interaction that stood out to Tamkee was with a recent Queen’s graduate. After meeting Oscar, she told him her family had never owned pets, but now that she was working, one of her first purchases would be a golden retriever.
“I feel sorry for any dog that comes after him,” Tamkee said. “They have some large paws to fill.”
Following Oscar’s passing, Tamkee said he feels more compelled than ever to continue sharing photos of him on Instagram as more people have begun following the account.
Tamkee said he is grateful for the way Queen’s community embraced Oscar, adding that campus visits became the highlight of almost any dog’s day.
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