Therapy Animals of Utah first came to the U last spring for the “Pause for Paws” two-day event organized by the College of Social Work. Similar visits are trending at universities across the nation.
Most students acknowledge that the week leading into finals is a time of little sleep, frantic studying and lots of stress — and animals are proven to help.
“Physiologically, it relieves stress,” said Deborah Carr, executive director of Therapy Animals of Utah who brought her border collie, William, to be cuddled by students Wednesday.
Petting animals can help students on a chemical level.
“If you like animals, then petting them and being close to them helps your body release endorphins and oxytocin that help you feel calm. It reduces your blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate,” Carr said. “Those hormones that your body releases, they last for hours and hours.”
Therapy animals are not service pets, but they must pass a series of tests to be registered.
“First there’s a skills test — basic sit and stay stuff — then there’s an aptitude test when you make sure they’re OK walking through crowds and people who move differently or sound differently and loud noises and visual distractions,” Carr said.
After they complete and pass the test, dog handlers, who are also the dogs’ owners, stay out of way and just let them do their work.
William, who has been a therapy dog for 10 years, visits a nursing home twice a month and spends the summer comforting kids with cancer at Camp Hobe in addition to the currently popular campus events.
“I miss my dog so much. I’m a freshman and this is my first time being away from home,” said Karriann Johnson who moved from Idaho Falls, Idaho to study journalism at the U.
Smiles filled the faces of students and faculty as they gathered around their new furry friends.
“It definitely works,” said one pet handler during the two-hour event.
The animals show that a little love goes a long way.
“She loves to give kisses, food and treats and belly rubs,” exclaims Viviane Vo-Duc as a group of students and faculty surround Daisy, the two-year old Maltese mix she had certified this June.
“These are the types of events that she prefers,” she said.
Jennifer Nozawa, who handles public relations for the College of Social Work and helped organize the event, appreciates the sense of unity therapy animals bring to campus.
“It brings in students from all different areas around campus and all different disciplines. So my hope is that they get to know a little bit about social work,” Nozawa says.
Therapy Animals of Utah is a local non-profit organization that currently serves over 45 facilities from Ogden to South Utah Valley with a mission to bring love, comfort, hope and healing to those in need.
The “Paws for Pause” event continues Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 .p.m inside the atrium at the College of Social Work.