MUNCIE, Ind. — For many college students, final exam week is one of the most stressful weeks. However, Ball State’s Spirit and Tradition office gave students a way to lower their stress with its Paws and Play: Friendsgiving event, which featured multiple therapy dogs of several different breeds for students to destress with.
“Being able to pet and see dogs releases some of the stress,” said Zayriona Williams, a sophomore at Ball State University. “I didn’t even think about finals or how stressful finals can be.”
These therapy dogs provide some help and relief from the stress of finals, but the relationship between the owner, the dog, and the student also receives the same joy and relief.
“We love coming to campus. I come to campus with pack walks, we come to events like this, and it just brings us happiness because the students ask to pet the dogs,” said Bonnie Krupa, a professional dog trainer and owner of ACT (Advanced Canine Techniques), a therapy dog training center in Delaware County.
It’s not just humans who benefit from therapy dogs; these dogs also gain new friends and give them activity.
“It gives them a job to do,” said Krupa. “Dogs with a purpose tend to live longer, giving them something to focus on.”
The next time Advanced Canine Techniques’ therapy dogs will be on campus is December 4th from 4 to 9 p.m. at Bracken Library.
For more information about therapy dogs in Delaware County, feel free to visit their website here.
Contact Dylan Chesnut with comments at dylan.chesnut@bsu.edu.
