School can be fun, but stress is a way of life for most college and university students. Long days of classes and studying can challenge your well being. But time spent with a furry friend can turn a frown upside down. And smiles and joy will do wonders for our mental health!
Pets On Campus
For example, the University of Wisconsin @ Madison offers space for student well being. Nonprofits like Dogs On Call (DOC) serve to “improve human health through service and therapy animals.”
DOC provides therapy animals to help people in hospitals, correctional institutions, nursing homes, and hospices. DOC also serves the pharmacy school, law school, and medical and public health school in the University of Wisconsin network .
Dogs and their pet parents from DOC make more than 60 visits a year to the University of Wisconsin. Dogs help students relieve stress, enjoy doggy pets and belly rubs, and head pats. These special animals remind students to smile and have fun.
Pet Health Benefits
It’s a no brainer that pets help our well being – we’re not talking about rocket science. But only recently have colleges and universities recognized the benefits. For example, when students talk about missing family at home, they often miss their pets the most.
Some schools offer “puppy therapy” for stressed out and study-drained students. Yale and Harvard offer a “check out” service from the library where students can visit dogs for 30 minutes at a time. And pet visits in residence halls are another way to relieve stress.
Pets provide play time, exercise and relaxation during high-stress times at school. Many schools around the county encourage pets on campus, including:
“Overwhelming Anxiety”
At the University of Wisconsin alone, mental health counseling demands increased by 35% since 2015. In 2017, “overwhelming anxiety” was a common experience in three out of four students.
Time spent with furry doggies through volunteering, adoptions or visiting animals through events like DOC, can help relieve students’ anxiety and stress.
Students also miss their furry friends from home. Health benefits of DOC pets are obvious:
- Lower blood pressure and cholesterol
- Reduce stress
- Improve socialization
- Manage depression and loneliness
Meeting New Friends
Some students want more than just a short-term visit with pets. Students meet and fall in love with animals and adopt pets specifically to help improve their mental health.
One senior at University of Wisconsin, Clare Loughran, struggled with chronic depression. Her therapist recognized the Loughran could benefit from adopting a dog.
Loughran explained that “I have a problem taking care of myself, which a lot of people have a problem with when they’re depressed … so having someone else to take care of really helps because it’s also benefiting myself.”
Loughran learned that she had to get out of the house more. Having someone else to take care of forces her to also prioritize herself. Daily dog walks at least twice a day, helps Loughran manage her depression.
College Student Connection
Students at University of Wisconsin can also foster animals on a trial basis. A nonprofit call Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin created a volunteer opportunity to foster animals. Pet foster care is a smart way for students to try out pet parenting if they are unsure about adopting a pet.
Underdog Pet Rescue gives students supplies they need. Fostering helps students decide if they want to adopt. Rescue groups always need foster homes and a trial run for students often leads to adoption.
Fostering also provides a study break for students, creates a new support system for students, and helps socialize pets for adoption.
Always consider your mental health needs before choosing a school. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) offers guidelines to help you decide.
Sources: A Cause for Paws: Students turn to four-legged friends in times of stress
Your student guide to owning pets in college
The Best Pets for College Students
Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom
“Sometimes, your pet picks you.”
~–Julie Wenzel
Top image source: kelleystherapeuticgarments.com/therapy-dog/