Being from out of state and no longer being able to live in the same space as my four-legged companions is hard. I consider them a part of the family. If I’m being completely honest, they're like my siblings.
With this in mind, I believe colleges need puppy rooms.Puppy rooms on campus would be the solution to our pet therapy needs at our home away from home. Not only would they be serving us, we would be able to train and serve them. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.
Having the opportunity to help train and play with service dogs all while receiving the joy of interaction with them could improve our student life in a whole new way. This is why puppy rooms on campus need to be implemented into college students lives.Studies show, dogs can increase levels of oxytocin in humans, a hormone that reduces anxiety and blood pressure. People become less frightened and more secure when they pet dogs, according to Castellano. As college students, we know stress and are always looking for ways to de-stress because balancing academics, social life, work, and whatever little downtime we have can be overwhelming. Mental health is just as, if not more, important than physical health. Going to a school with pet therapy sessions throughout the school year and especially during the week of finals would change overall student life and campus appeal.
At the University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library, the school shares a variety of animal activities to help students relax. Students in the library can visit with therapy dogs to de-stress and deal with anxiety. The program was called “Paws to Relax” and available during the super-stressful finals week on campus. The program has reportedly been expanded to include cats as well, for the ultimate in lazy relaxation. In addition to finals week, UConn brings in therapy pets after particularly stressful situations, including suicides and deadly automobile accidents according to Best Online Colleges.
Not only would having a pet therapy program help us as students but it would also have a great impact on the animals involved. Through interaction, the animals would strengthen their social skills, become adaptable in a variety of settings and environments, and receive love and attention.
This idea is slowly but surely starting to spread across the country which is amazing. To college campuses everywhere, this is a plea for sanity! With an overwhelming desire to have a program such as this, we as students are simply asking for another aspect of campus to enhance student life and overall well-being for both us humans and dogs!
