Sitting in lounge chairs and scratching the silky, soft fur of Andie was just what many students in the midst of midterm exams at Husson University needed this week.
Students filtered in and out of the Furman Student Center at Husson University to de-stress through puppy love. Andie, a 3-year-old golden retriever and certified therapy dog, was on hand for students to spend time with to help them cope with midterm stress.
The university offered the puppy de-stressing sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Andie looked as though she had a smile on her face as people rubbed her ears, scratched her snout and fussed over her sweet temperament and her soft fur.
Second-year student Jessica Pomerleau pet and snuggled Andie for several minutes. “It’s really nice just to see a dog, especially during midterm week,” Pomerleau said.
Students spent time with Andie in the Furman Student Center on Tuesday. Pause for Paws, a campus outreach program started by Husson counselor Janice Gillen to promote positive mental health, brought certified therapy dogs in to the student center on Tuesday and Wednesday to help students cope with the stress of midterms. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Pause for Paws is a campus outreach program to promote positive mental health.
“I am a strong believer that animals can be very therapeutic,” counselor Janice Gillen said. “I was very excited to be given an opportunity to bring that to Husson.”
Gillen said the canine visits have been a big hit with the students. This is the second time therapy dogs have been brought on campus to help.
“It gives the students a nice little break in between classes and studying,” Gillen said.