The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Canine therapy helps stressed-out students
Revision and coursework put on hold as lovable dogs take over university library
Befriending a group of dogs proved to be the perfect antidote to mounting coursework for students in Dundee.
Volunteers from Canine Concern Scotland Trust were welcomed to the Abertay University library to offer a unique way to destress from studies.
Students, many of them approaching deadlines and preparing for exams, queued up to hang out with dogs at the Paws Against Stress event.
Greyson the great dane, Barclay the jackadoodle, Penny the labrador, Sheba the collie-poodle cross, and Buffy and Bella the miniature schnauzers were all brought in to spread joy in the library.
Delighted students were given the chance to play with the dogs and interact with their owners during the event, which aimed to use the therapeutic qualities of canines to provide muchneeded breaks between bouts of revision.
Broughty Ferry volunteer Tom Miller, 76, owner of Penny, said: “Penny and I have been doing this for three years.
“All companion animals will help people with stress and blood pressure, things like that. It is just some sort of connection when you touch them, you feel this kind of warmth and calmness coming out.”
Dundee volunteer Jennifer Bird and her dog Grayson have been taking part in Canine Concern Scotland Trust projects since January. She said: “He’s so friendly, he loves a cuddle. We call him the velcro dog – no matter where you are in the house he likes to be close by.
“We go up to Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee and visit patients recovering from operations, stress and strokes and things like that. He certainly helps. You can see it for yourself, look at the smiles on the students’ faces. They’re loving it.”
Third year business and human resources management student Demi Carr said: “It gives you a chance to come away from everything and not have to think about studying, even for 20 minutes.”
bdingwall@thecourier.co.uk