Students pose with Greyhounds Max and Milo and their teammate Wayne and Golden Retriever Comet and his teammate Nancy.
A reported 1100 students at UMass Amherst swarmed the student union ballroom to spend time with the 26 Bright Spot Therapy Dogs that came to campus on Wednesday, April 26th.
Classes were ending, final papers were being completed, final exams were looming, and students were in need of the calming relief only a dog can give. They just wanted to hang out, sit down next to the dogs and pet them. One female student told me she had read that research has proven that the simple act of petting a dog can make a person feel happy and relaxed. I’ve never had a dog myself, so I was skeptical… until now. It’s true. I really do feel calmer after petting your dog, and he makes me feel happy, too!
The therapy dogs came in all sizes, shapes, breeds and mixed breeds.
Most students circulated throughout the large ballroom making sure to spend time with each dog there, then headed over to the library where three more therapy dogs were hanging out.
They met Kaezli, a Bernese Mountain Dog…
Spent time petting Bella, a Rottweiler…
Loved petting Mac, a Golden Retriever…
And hanging out with King – most students never met an English Setter before…
And lots more Bright Spot Therapy Dogs during the event that lasted from 11:00-1:30.
Some students were first-time attendees to the event. Others have come to every event we’ve held at UMass Amherst. The University has already booked dates for the 2017-2018 academic year, when once again our friendly, outgoing therapy dogs will be on campus for mid-term and final exams, both first and second semester.