On Monday, August 28 therapy pet teams from PAWS of CNY visited the Penfield Library at SUNY Oswego. The library staff hosted the event, which took place outside on the lawn. The students at SUNY Oswego also started classes that day and were starting the new school year. This event was a de-stress event for the students, all of which were very excited to meet the PAWS of CNY certified therapy pets.
PAWS of CNY volunteers in attendance included Holly Besaw and her Cat Hector, Diane Rogers and Mary Berger and their Shi Tzu Sammy, Martha Sturtz and her Golden Retriever Flyer, and Sue Vaughn and her Labrador Mix Bert.
About 150 students and faculty members greeted the therapy pet teams from PAWS of CNY. Many of the visitors did stay for the entire hour and a half that PAWS was on campus. Sue Vaughn even noticed how much some of the students were missing their own pets from back home.
“A couple of the kids were so happy to see the dogs that they cried,” said Vaughn. “They really missed their own pets at home even though they had only been gone from home for a few days.”
The PAWS of CNY therapy pets were glad to have the opportunity to bring joy and comfort to the students, many of which were making the transition from being away from home. As these freshmen start their careers as college students and start to learn what it’s like to be on their own for the first time, one thing is for sure: they will never forget their time spent with the therapy pets of PAWS of CNY.
Click the gallery below to see photos from the event.
-By Kyle Andrake
