University of Guelph students to 'paws' for canine stress therapy

The University of Guelph is calling in somefour-legged helpers to assist students combat the stress that comes with exam time.

Associate librarian Peggy Pritchard is leading sessions called Take a Paws where students will have up to 15 minutes to play with pooches.

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"We've been running the exam stress-buster series since about 2011. We really wanted to introduce dogs to provide comfort for students because there is scientific evidence to suggest that animals, stroking animals, cuddling animals really helps in many ways decreasing blood pressure, decreasing cortisol levels and also just creating a sense of well-being," Pritchard said in a YouTube video posted by the Ontario Veterinary College, which is at the University of Guelph.

Dog-owner teams are certified

Pritchard takes her dog Taksim, a two-year-old Lowchen, to visit patients at Guelph's Hospice Wellington. She will be among the dog-owner teams who are taking part in the event. Other teams have received training and certification from the St. John's Ambulance therapy dog program.

Heather Leong, an information technology analyst at OVC and volunteer coordinator with the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program in Cambridge, said "de-stress" visits like this event have taken off in the past three years.

"I know these programs have been very successful," she said in a release about the event.

The event, which will take place during the afternoon and evening on Tuesday and Wednesday, is co-sponsored by OVC and OVC Pet Trust. Students can sign up on the library's website.