Lending a therapeutic paw to students

By Lyndi-Colleen Morgan

Therapeutic Paws of Canada are working together to bring therapy dogs to meet with students at the University of Windsor, following a visit at St. Clair College Residence.

The University of Windsor will be holding a Therapeutic Paws event on Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 at their main campus.  The events are being put together to reduce the stress in students.

Gemma Chatwin an English post-graduate exchange student at the University of Windsor said she will be attending the event. She said the event will allow students who may be away from home for the first time to connect with pets they may be missing.

“I think university creates a lot of stress for students, especially for those who might be experiencing university for the first time,” said Chatwin. “I think it will give students the ability to connect with an animal that they might be missing. This familiarity of being with a pet will de-stress them.”

Therapy dogs have already visited the students living at the St. Clair College Residence.

Andrew Mackereth, the residence life coordinator at St. Clair College, said the dogs from Therapeutic Paws of Canada were brought in to help students with the stress they may be feeling at the end of the semester. He said he knew the dogs would make a difference to the students at this time of the year.

“December is a really stressful month for students with their exams coming up and their midterms just finishing up,” said Mackereth. “We planned it for students as a stress buster as well as a way to remind them that the residence is still thinking about them at that time and that animals are a really great way to relieve that stress.”

Therapy dogs and interactive social dogs are trained to work with a handler to provide comfort and service to people in need, including those in hospitals, retirement homes, schools and children with disabilities or learning challenges. They are also trained to support people in stressful situations like those dealing with the aftermath of a disaster.

Therapy dogs come from a variety of breeds since certain dogs work better in different circumstances but one of the things they have in common is their temperament. Therapy dogs need to be confident and social dogs who are patient, gentle and friendly in all situations.

“With our visits we can reduce stress, anxiety, loneliness or depression whether we are at hospital or a school or a senior residence. That’s why it’s so important,” said Jane Stewart, team leader of the Windsor-Essex branch of Therapeutic Paws of Canada. “It offers residents, or whoever, a stress relief for many different reasons.”

Therapeutic Paws of Canada is a national organization of volunteers and their registered animals who provide those in need with resources through regular visits to hospitals, residences and schools. The program tailors to physical, mental, educational, motivational and social needs. TPOC uses both cats and dogs when conducting these visits depending on the situation or the requests of the people asking for the services.

Stewart became part of the organization three years ago with her therapy dog Harley, a 10-year-old black Labrador retriever. She said in order to be accepted her dog had to be tested to make sure he was a right fit for the program.

The animals have to meet requirements to ensure the safety of the people who use the services. The cats or dogs and their trainers are analyzed as a team and must complete a formal evaluation and a behavioural assessment. Only those who have passed the evaluation will be allowed to handle the pet during a therapy visit from the TPOC.

“It gives students that needed break time from studying and they get to come down and play with some dogs and have a great time,” said Mackereth. “It also allows them to reconnect with themselves, their friends and if they have pets at home they can kind of mock play with those pets.”

Mackereth said the residence hosts these events twice in the academic year. Nov. 25 was the first therapy dog event of the school year for students living at the St. Clair College residence. Mackereth said when he was planning the event students where approaching him and asking when it was going to happen.

Dana Peeler, a resident in the building, said she did not attend the event last year but did this year.

Peeler is a second year student in the veterinary technician program at St. Clair College. She said she understands the connection these students feel toward the dogs.

“When I see a happy dog it makes me happy,” said Peeler. “When I see other people happy it makes me happy especially with my desired career. When I see a dog it reminds me of my dog at home and that’s what the therapy dogs do and it takes away a little of my stress and replaces it with happiness.”

St. Clair College residence will also host a free massage day Dec. 3 for its students.

Mackereth said this will continue the stress free environment the residence staff are trying to provide its students.

The next therapy dog day at residence will take place in April 2016 the second semester begins to come to a close.

For information about Therapeutic Paws of Canada, the services offered and information on becoming a member of the team visit tpoc.ca.