A team of PAWS of CNY volunteers and their certified therapy dogs attended a student de-stress event at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego on May 12. Among other wellness-themed activities available, students were able to sit on the quad and enjoy the emotional benefits of quality time spent with PAWS of CNY’s therapy dogs. Approximately 200 students stopped by to meet the PAWS of CNY teams.
Amy Dumas attended the event with her golden retriever, Boomer.
“The dogs loved being outside in the sunshine and the cool lake breeze,” said Dumas. “The students just love the dogs. They sit right down in the grass and pet them. One student said ‘this is the best day ever’ and other comments [heard] included ‘this is just what I needed,’ and ‘the dogs made my day.'”
For many students away from home who are facing the academic rigors of finals week, time spent with a therapy dog can help them to take advantage of some of the simple joys of the human-animal bond. Student de-stress events are one of PAWS of CNY’s core services, in addition to nursing home and hospital visits and student reading programs.
“The dogs definitely work differently with the ‘big kids’ versus the reading groups or the elderly,” said Dumas, “They sense their healthy stature and they seem to lean into getting pet – almost [as] if they know they are young, able-bodied kids, so it is okay to get lost in being adored. With the little kids and/or the elderly or frail, the dogs are much more careful doing their job. I think the dogs relax a bit more at the colleges.”
If you are interested in having PAWS of CNY attend your next college de-stress event, contact us. To see photos from the SUNY Oswego De-stress event, view our photo gallery below.