Students stand in line for puppies
Bethel University students wait in line for their chance to cuddle with puppies
by Sabrina Mecicar, writer
Students are crowding in a long line for their turn. Excited conversations take place, with almost every sentence containing the word “puppies.” Bethel Student Activities members scoop up puppy chow in cups and hand them to the waiting students. One group leaves the room as another comes in. There are five puppies: Taco Bell, Whataburger, Cinnabon, Shake Shack and Franny, who has Spina Bifida. All of them are a mix between Cattle Dog, Shepherd and Border Collie. The SA funds this event for the students.
“It is such a good stress reliever. This time of the semester, as much as any other time, can be stressful with finals coming up,” Student Activities Executive Director Tavniah Dyers said.
The event took place at Bethel’s Loft Garage Friday at noon. It was funded by the SA because it has been an enjoyable daytime activity for students to participate in, and it is a good stress reliever this time of the semester. The organization that brought the puppies, Secondhand Hounds, used this opportunity to raise money for their cause of finding homes for rescue, healing and foster pets.
“It’s phenomenal for the dogs to be socialized. You know, the more they can be exposed to different sounds and smells and situations, the better the dogs are going to be,” said Secondhand Hounds puppy party coordinator Donni Torres.
Secondhand Hounds has been doing events like these for five years for different events, businesses and even a 10 year-old’s birthday party.
“It’s just a fun thing, and it gives me a chance to talk to people, as I call ‘preach the gospel of rescue’… It’s easy to talk to people that are in a captive audience holding a puppy,” — Donni Torres, Secondhand Hounds Puppy Party Coordinator
Since Bethel couldn’t host this event last year due to COVID, it was a good change of pace that brought relief for both the students and the puppies, organizers said.
