Between the numerous assignments, clubs on campus and planning, college can be a stressful time for both new and returning students. However Winthrop University has provided a unique way of helping students destress from the day’s worries with the help of some furry friends to remind people of home and feel calm for a moment.
Every first, third, and fifth Wednesday of the month, Winthrop University invites therapy dogs from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to come by the lobby of the DiGiorgio Student Center from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“It’s great because at a college campus, you don’t get to see a lot of animals,” Ashley Cooper, senior biology major said. “So when they come, it gives people a chance to interact with other people who love dogs.”
Therapy dogs are dogs that are trained to help comfort people and relieve people of anxiety and the feeling of homesickness when living on campus.
The Office of Student Activities runs the program, and Patricia Riley, assistant director of student activites said that the program has evolved over time.
“The dogs were usually brought during finals week but we started to bring them every other week because let’s face it; students are stressed all the time,” Riley said.
One of the volunteers, Jane Willis of Therapy Dogs International, along with her eight year old Black Labrador Retriever named Wally, uses dogs to help calm people with post-traumatic stress disorder and stress.
“Medically, therapy dogs help bring a calming, cooling effect to people’s emotions,” Willis said.
Another program that is a part of the Therapy Dog events is the local chapter of Partnering Animals With Success (PAWS).
“We have programs all over Rock Hill, such as therapy dogs reading sessions at elementary schools,” Maxine German, Alliance of Therapy Dogs member said. “We make visits to special education classes and we’re looking at establishing a presence at high schools and middle schools.”
With the variety of dogs like German’s seven and a half year old English Labrador Cara, the students at Winthrop can pet and learn more about each of the dogs in a calm environment with the volunteers.
“Each of the dogs has their own personality. So every time they visit, you get to know them more,” Cooper said.
This event has been a long tradition every other Wednesday; giving students something to look forward to. Cooper, and many other students, have been going for years.
The therapy dog event also allows students who have pets at home interact with other
students and share experience of playing with a dog.
“I’ve made a lot more connections and conversations with students that I never would have made in my office thanks to the therapy dogs,” Riley said.
Therapy dog organizations like the Alliance of Therapy Dogs are focused on providing volunteer programs around local areas and forming connections with people of all ages.
“I use them [the therapy dogs] in the hospital, nursing homes and in schools to help relieve stress,” Willis said.
According to Newsweek, a survey of 1000 U.S. adults found that Millennials are the most stressed generation compared to Baby Boomers and Generation Z. The study cites young Millennials experiencing stress from finding a job, anxiety, social issues and anxiety in education.
Interaction with therapy dogs has been found to reduce anxiety, lessen depression, lift spirits, lower blood pressure and encourage students to engage in socializing with others and communicate, as well as lower blood pressure to comfort students.
