Therapy dogs help college students relax
No matter how old you get, exams are a stressful time.
University of St. Thomas students got a treat this week at their end of semester event, "Express Your Stress." Students took a break from prepping for exams to do things like relax with a chair massage or decorate cupcakes.
One of the most popular stress reducing activities at the event was hanging out with therapy dogs from Faithful Paws.
Caitlyn McKissick is a sophomore Business major at St. Thomas. She says students look forward to this stress reducer every semester.
"It is a good way to forget about finals for a while and just hang out and enjoy the company of the dogs."
Debra Moyer is the assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness at the University of St. Thomas. She says she can see the impact dogs have on the students emotional state.
"It's always amazing to see the interaction of the dogs and students that day. Whether it's a dog that has been here 10 times to a brand new visitor, or a small Chihuahua to a not so small Great Dane, our students connect to the dogs for various reasons and it's definitely a huge stress reliever for them. We are very grateful to the Faithful Paws group and are truly blessed by their visits."
This just proves what all of us pet lovers know already: a cuddle with your furry friend makes even the most stressful day better.
