For the average college student, final exams entail a week of complete stress overload and possibly an emotional breakdown to some degree.
This is certainly true of my campus, but crafty students discovered a way to brighten everyone’s spirits as we give our best efforts in the classroom.
This relief comes in the form of man’s best friend—dogs!
Students earning an anthrozoology major temporarily adopt guide dogs in training as part of their curriculum.
During finals week, the students take their dogs with them all around campus so everyone gets a chance to pet and engage with the dogs. Human interaction with affectionate animals has been known to lower blood pressure, decrease stress, and improve one’s overall mood; not to mention, it puts a smile on your face!
Dogs are especially helpful on a college campus, where students often feel fatigued, overwhelmed, and homesick for their own pets.
Personally, I love taking a few minutes between classes to interact with a fellow student and their dog. I instantly feel more energetic and happy after doting over the cute puppies! Petting the dogs offers a momentary distraction from the demands of my day and helps spark an enthusiastic mindset.
My college is proof that the therapeutic benefits of human/animal connection are gaining ground.
The anthrozoology major offered at Carroll College is the first of its kind in the nation. Students learn to train dogs and work with various organizations in the Helena, Montana community to gain hands-on experience in animal behavior and education.
As a student, I have personally experienced some of the many benefits positive animal interaction can have on one’s attitude and life. Therapeutic advances in this subject are sure to continue to influence countless lives in the future.
This blog post was written by Meg Mitzel,a publicity intern at Artichoke Press who is studing Anthrozoology at Carroll College. Look forward to learning more from her in the coming months. We are excited to work with these young men and women as they take what they have learned in shool and apply it to real life business. It will be a joyful learning experience to share what we know and what we are in the process of learning about animal/human connection with Meg and the other interns for Artichoke Press.
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