Canine friends provide comfort as exam period approaches

By Michael Owens

ROCK HILL — Therapy dogs have been a staple around college campuses for many years, relieving stress of students in some of the most hectic times of the year.

Members of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs have been visiting Winthrop on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, bringing canine friends into the lobby of the DiGiorgio Campus Center.

The visits are sponsored by the university’s Department of Student Activities as well as the Order of Omega.

Assistant Director of Student Activities Patrica Riley explained that past experiences fueled her to bring this sort of experience to Winthrop.

“We had dogs twice a week in our student union,” she said, reflecting on her time as an undergraduate student.

Paws-itive Effects

While the goal of an event like this may seem to just put smiles on people’s faces, it turns out dogs can actually have an affect on long term health.

The American Heart Association published an article claiming that owning a pet can lower one’s risk for heart disease back in August.

One of the big reasons why is a very simple one.

“Not surprisingly, dog owners who walk their dogs are more likely to achieve the recommended level of physical activity than dog owners who do not walk their dogs,” the article reads.

Other factors include stress reduction as well as an association with cholesterol and triglyceride levels and a higher heart attack survival rate.

Another study, done in the United Kingdom’s University of Lincoln, showed that dogs also have the ability to sense and react to human emotions.

Full of Heart

Of course, the first thought of visiting nursing homes and college campuses isn’t to curb heart disease, it’s a much more simple rationale.

“Just look around at all the happy faces and all of the people who really, really having a dog to pet. That’s the reason why we do it; for the smiles,” said Maxine German, who serves as the local tester for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Students are also feeling the effects of having the dogs around for more periods than just the week of final exams.

“I’m almost constantly stressed,” said art major Ashley Llewellyn, who sat and played with Wally, a black Labrador Retriever, for most of the time.

“Having a nice break from it and coming here and sitting with my friends and talking while petting dogs; it just really helps because it’s such a relaxed atmosphere.”

The dogs will return to campus on April 20, just one week before the start of final exams.