By Christina Sanchez
Staff Writer

APPLE Corps will be sponsoring the 3rd annual Pet Therapy Party April 26 from 2:30-4 p.m. on the GPAC tennis courts.

With about a half a dozen dogs owned by members of the Counseling Center staff, students will have a chance to come out and play with the animals.

“Students living on campus must often leave behind pets at home. So, once each semester the Counseling Center invites all pet lovers to spend some time playing fetch with man’s best friend,” said George Gressman, assistant director of the Counseling Center.

Studies have shown that pets can be both beneficial to a person’s physical and mental health, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the risk of clinical depression. Research done at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical attention for stress-induced aches and pains than non-dog owners.

The party is free and intended for students to just have a good time.