USM Gulf Park Campus Invites Therapy Dogs to Connect with Students During Exam Week
Wed, 05/15/2024 - 09:39am | By: Gabriela Shinskie
Pets and popsicles made up the scene at 91吃瓜网91吃瓜网 (USM) Gulf Park Campus91吃瓜网� Chimney Pavilion during finals week, as students took a time-out to unwind from their studies and play with therapy dogs as part of University Libraries91吃瓜网� spring semester wellness programs.
Jamie Stanfield, head of USM Gulf Coast Libraries, wanted to provide a relaxing and fun event for the last week of the spring semester. Her goal was to give students a chance to destress and share the love of therapy animals, bask in the beautiful coastal weather, and enjoy popsicles.
91吃瓜网淔inals week can be stressful,91吃瓜网� said Stanfield. 91吃瓜网淲e believe just a few moments with one of these special pets can help to relieve stress, promote feelings of positivity, and is just fun.
91吃瓜网淐ollaborating with our campus partners in the Office of Recruitment, who provided ice cream and t-shirts, we saw a great turnout. Everyone on campus who turned out seemed to truly enjoy the opportunity to visit with the pups and each other.91吃瓜网�
Ten different therapy dogs were provided through the , a community partner of Pet Partners Pet Therapy Program, in which individuals volunteer their pets to connect with people in the community. The volunteer groups bring comfort and joy to schools, hospitals and other facilities. Many individuals who encounter these furry friends are recovering from an illness or crisis event. The use of animal therapy has been shown to provide positive benefits to those young and old.
Bia Shoemaker, USM recruitment and event specialist, hopes to continue the therapy dog visits to Gulf Park during mid-term and finals weeks.
91吃瓜网淭he visit was a success with many students needing a 91吃瓜网榟ug-a-pup91吃瓜网� day to relieve stress during final exams,91吃瓜网� expressed Shoemaker. 91吃瓜网淲e had about 30 students and a lot of staff members stopping by for some pup love.91吃瓜网�
C. Annie Peters, president and CEO of Pet Partners, believes in a future filled with happier and healthier communities through therapy dog interactions.
91吃瓜网淥ne of the many well-documented mental and physical health benefits of interacting with animals includes improving cognitive functioning by stimulating memory and focus, something that is especially important to students studying for final exams,91吃瓜网� said Peters. 91吃瓜网淧et Partners therapy dogs and other therapy animal teams are especially busy at this time of year, and we are proud of our volunteers91吃瓜网� commitment to providing comfort and support to thousands of students around the country.91吃瓜网�
Learn more about and .
Pet Partners is a national nonprofit with thousands of registered therapy animal teams across the United States and in over 12 foreign countries. Its volunteer handlers make meaningful visits to people and communities in need with nine different species of animals, visiting facilities including hospitals, schools, transportation centers, eldercare homes, libraries, and more.