College can be a stressful place for many. From assignment deadlines, exams and the never ending study cycle, many students try to find a way to escape the stress.
One of these ways involves man’s best friend, puppies!
Many may have heard of trained therapy dogs in places like hospitals and senior centers, providing a source of relief and happiness to the residents.
Bringing this idea to a college campus seems to be a recent trend that has been welcomed by many. There are examples that have been all over the internet and news over the past few years.
Sinclair itself has held events like this called Puppies on Campus in the past, entirely free for all students.
These events normally take place around midterms and finals, when students tend to be stressed about their upcoming tests.
Interacting with dogs has actual studies supporting the fact that it is good for both mental and physical health, according to UCLA Health.
The simple act of petting dogs lowers anxiety, provides a happy distraction from stressors, reduces loneliness and increases mental stimulation.
It also physically reduces blood pressure and slows breathing, which helps to reduce anxiety.
These events also help the dogs themselves, as many of them are in training to be therapy dogs. Being in public situations helps to teach the dogs how to behave and handle the general public.
According to National Geographic, dogs themselves like working as therapy dogs as well. Dogs are selected specifically to be service dogs based on their individual behavior.
Puppies on Campus is part of Sinclair Talks and is sponsored by the Health Sciences Career Community but the 4 Paws for Ability organization provides the service dogs for the event. The organization also provides service dogs to children with disabilities as well as veterans.
This organization helps to educate the public about service dogs in public places. Some of their primary goals according to their website include:
“Provide as many children as possible, within the scope of our ability to serve, and with disabilities falling under the definition of such in the Americans with Disability Act (1990) with access to a qualified service dog trained specifically for their needs, with no minimum age, and regardless of the severity of the disability.” as well as, “Increase public awareness of the laws regarding service animals and the value they provide their owners.”
These events help to create awareness to organizations like these, which helps to spread the idea to college campuses around the world.
So far, having events with service dogs on college campuses seems to be a useful way for students to relieve their stress around finals time.
Multiple medical studies show that service dogs are a valid benefit for mental health.
Both the students and the dogs can benefit, since the events provide an opportunity for the dogs to get used to being out in public interacting with people.
Sinclair’s Puppies on Campus is a local opportunity to see this type of event for yourself.
Sean Kahle
Staff Writer