Therapy dogs help students de-stress at the Mount’s Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center.
Midterms can be a demanding time for the Mount Saint Mary College community, but trained therapy dogs provided a break for students, faculty, and staff on March 4 at the Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center.
The animals came to the Mount via Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause. The popular event has become a tradition at Mount Saint Mary College during midterms week.
Research has indicated that watching, petting, or talking to an animal can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Interacting with animals can also reduce mental distress and lower anxiety levels – for example, during final exam times for college students.
“Wagging Tails Stress Relief” was co-sponsored by the Mount Saint Mary College Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, the Counseling Center, and Health Services.