Pets are therapy for students

By Amanda Hickey
News Editor

When Chihuahuas Doc and Abby, Moab, a Yellow Labrador and Ditto, a Labrador/ Beagle mix, came towards the tennis courts on Sept. 16, they received attention from more than just their owners.

Pet Therapy is a program the Counseling Center has every year to help students deal with missing their pets.

“A lot of students miss their pets, and we want to be able to bring that home to them,” Mark Schwarze, of the Counseling Center, said.

Though this isn’t the first year Pet Therapy has taken place, the turn out surprised Schwarze.

Photo by Carol Franch Moab gives love to student.

“I think we’ve had 10-15 students out and that’s 10-15 more than last year. I’ve seen smiles on students faces and heard them talk about their dogs,” Schwarze said.

It gets lonely when you’re living on campus away from your family and pets, Schwarze continued.

Doc and Abby ran circles around students and allowed students to hold them, while Moab and Ditto relaxed and reveled in the attention.

“We made sure we brought dogs out who’d be friendly,” Schwarze said.

For freshman Beverly Harris, Pet Therapy was something to do.

“[I came out] to see what’s going on and to see what kind of dogs they had,” Harris said.

Harris misses playing with her Chihuahua, CiCi, at home.

“It helps to be around animals, even if they’re not yours,” Harris said.

Freshman Stacie Spencer came out “to see the animals, because they’re so cute.”

“Even though I go home every weekend, I still miss my pets during the week,” Spencer said. At home, Spencer has two female cats, Taffy and Missy.