Paws Fur Relief Combats Stress at Semester's End

April 23, 2014

Freshman Sydney Shelton strokes a therapy dog. Freshman Alex Johnson with de-stressing dog.

For Sydney Shelton, an Old Dominion freshman from Northern Virginia majoring in biology, and Alex Johnson, a freshman from Chesapeake majoring in computer engineering, the Paws Fur Relief session with a therapy dog Tuesday at Webb Student Center offered just the stress relief they needed as they head toward spring semester final exams.

Paws Fur Relief is held near the end of fall and spring semesters by ODU's Pre-Veterinary Medical Association. Another session is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Portsmouth and Virginia rooms of Webb Center.

Open to students and faculty, the sessions offer a quiet moment to relax and de-stress with a certified therapy dog. "The week before finals is typically a high-stress time for students and faculty, and interacting with a pet has been shown to reduce stress," said Heidi Garman of the ODU PVMA, who coordinated the event.