PAW-SITIVE Impact

Therapy Dogs Help Local College Students Combat Stress And Anxiety

BY STEPHANIE BOUCHARD

Reports of college students struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health issues have been on the rise. A survey released in 2021 by the American College Health Association found that 48 percent of students reported moderate or severe psychological stress.

In response to such reports, college and university administrators are putting in place various resources and support for students. The University of Maine, Maine Maritime Academy, and other local higher education institutions have enlisted some furry, four-legged help. Therapy dogs are now a common sight on campuses, particularly during stressful times of the year, like final exam week.

Various studies on the use of animalassisted therapy in college settings have indicated students experience a decrease in feelings of stress and anxiety, and that regular, targeted interaction with animals may even improve executive functioning — the ability to self-manage things such as staying on task, planning ahead, and meeting goals.

Maine Maritime Academy has been bringing therapy dogs to its Castine campus consistently for at least two years, assistant director of student activities Jessica Shively said. Students love having the dogs on campus, she added.

“Dogs make just about everyone happy. When students are away at school, they miss their pets. Having a dog or dogs on campus gives them a similar connection and helps them cope with all the stresses that come with being a college student,” Shively said.

A good many people may scoff when they hear that therapy dogs are going to colleges to help relieve student stress, but the stress students feel and the respite the dogs offer is real.

Just before Christmas this past year, the Maine Maritime community learned the crushing news that four of its students were killed and three others were injured in a car crash.

Julie Ireland of Hampden and her therapy dog, Ellie, a 9-year-old black Labrador retriever, were already scheduled to be on campus the Tuesday after the accident.

One student walked into the library and told Ireland having Ellie there “was the most valuable thing.”

Ellie snuggled into the grieving student and let the student run her hands through her fur.

“I could just visibly see [the student] kind of decompress and feel better,” Ireland said.

Having the opportunity to interact with a therapy dog can be more impactful than people think, Heidi Sharpe said.

Sharpe, a friend of Ireland’s, became a volunteer therapy dog handler after seeing the effect Ireland and Ellie had at various events. Sharpe, Ireland, and their dogs are certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

“When I first observed Julie doing it, I was shocked at just how it is really moving,” Sharpe said.

Sometimes students will open up to the human handlers, too, Sharpe said.

Sharpe said she thinks that when students focus on the dog instead of looking another human in the eyes it helps them relax and drop their burdens for a little while.

“They’re focusing on the dog, which brings them happiness, joy, and releases serotonin, and it causes their walls [to come] down,” she said.

One such experience happened to her recently, when she and her therapy dog, Oliver, a 2-year-old Springer spaniel, were surrounded by students on a visit to a college campus. Sharpe watched as one student hung back. The student didn’t make a move to pat Oliver; she just sat on the floor and watched all the other students stroke him.

But Oliver made a beeline for the student.

“He went to her and kind of sat on her,” Sharpe said.

Sharpe said she told the student she’d get Oliver to move if she didn’t want the dog sitting on her. The student wrapped her arms around Oliver and said, “This is exactly what I need,” and started to cry.

“It’s those experiences that just mean so much to me,” Sharpe said.