Dogs to the rescue for stressed students
As Victoria University students prepare for exams, therapy dogs Cookie, Coco, Henry and Tarra want to remind anxious students that sometimes it’s important to enjoy a feel-good study break.
This week, the Paws the Pressure team and CoRe (Counselling & Resilience) team will arrive with therapy dogs to encourage stressed students to take a break from the books to pat a Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, or Golden Retriever.
The therapy dogs are part of VU’s "De-Stress Festival" to support students in the jittery lead up to final assignments and exams.
This is the second year Garry Potter and the VU Library team have organised therapy dog visits to VU libraries. The dogs will be on leads with volunteer handlers who will direct students on how to safely pat the dogs.
Other De-Stress Festival activities include:
- meditation sessions
- free coffee vouchers and free fresh fruit
- free massage chairs
- craft activities and giant chess and Jenga games.
“We encourage students to take a break from their studies and de-stress with the therapy dogs or participate in one of our other many relaxing activities,” he said.
Schedule of therapy dog library visits
- Mon 23 October – Jeri with Tarra (dog) 12.00noon – 1.30pm at St Albans library
- Tues 24 October - Donna with Cookie and Coco (dogs) 5.30 – 7pm at City Flinders library
- Wed 25 Oct - Donna with Cookie and Coco (dogs) 12.30 – 2pm at Footscray Park library
- Wed 25 Oct – Jenny with Henry (dog) 5.30 – 7pm at Footscray Nicholson library.
Watch the Paws for Pressure therapy dogs in action at Victoria University (from 2016 visits).
