Picture this: You wake up late for your 8 a.m. class, run across campus and get to class only to realize that you forgot your books for class. You leave the room and run into the guy you have had your eye on for the past few weeks. This would be great if you didn't look like a homeless person from your mornings punctual mishap. You go to the rest of your classes and begin your walk back to your dorm. After a long stressful day like this, all you want is a nap. You look up as you cross the sidewalk to see something that will make your day at least five times better -- a very happy Labrador Retriever.

There is some science behind why these furry balls of joy, otherwise known as dogs, make us happy. Studies have shown that dogs have evolved to understand human behavior and emotion more than any other animal. They have the ability to look us in the eye, listen to our voice, and have an understanding of what emotion we are having at that moment, and after a while, they can help us along with it. Whether that be by giving us kisses to cheer us up or inviting us to play ball with them to keep us happy.

There is also evidence that dogs affect us on a chemical level. The American Heart Association claims that having a dog significantly reduces the risk of heart disease. This stems from the chemicals our brains release when playing or snuggling with our four legged friends. Levels of serotonin and dopamine elevate and we grow calm and relaxed. Many psychologists recommend dogs to patients with anxiety or depression (the most common mental illnesses that appear in college students) for this reason. Dogs also fill our need for companionship and touch and we fill their void for it too.

Dogs also keep you present and away from issues from the past and future. While giving a belly rub you aren't thinking of the quiz you failed the day before or the exam you have next week. They are also great listeners, for those days when you just need to rant on about your harsh grading English professor they are there with a tail wag.

So the real question here is why we don't have a dog in every dormitory across America? With stress levels running wild in all of us we could definitely use a game of fetch or two.