University life can be very stressful, as anyone who has juggled multiple assignments and exams while trying to live a normal life knows. People need to find their own ways of dealing with that stress, but the University of Winnipeg’s Puppy Days can help.
Throughout the 2016/2017 academic year, the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) has held monthly Puppy Days, when students or casual visitors have the chance to relieve their stress through interaction with a number of dogs and their owners. Whether they stay for only a few minutes or for an extended time, the students can take a break from the stress of assignments and exams to enjoy a few wagging tails and face licks.
Most, but not all, of the dogs involved in the event were rescues either from Manitoba Mutts or from Hi Speed Hounds, an organization that saves racing dogs from tracks in the United States.
Jesse, the red brindle greyhound and Fergie, the fawn greyhound were part of the latter group, while other dogs included mixtures of such breeds as rottweiler, husky, or terrier, with a variety of sizes represented.
While the dogs just seemed to be glad of the chance to meet with people and to socialize with others of their own species, the owners were also glad to share their perspectives on questions of finding and caring for pets.
Greyhound owner Diane Hnatyshyn expressed a preference for adoption over buying a dog from a breeder, citing the large number of abandoned or needy dogs available for adoption.
With regard to greyhounds, she noted the worldwide campaign to end dog racing, especially in places like Macau, where “no dog that goes there [the racetrack] ever comes out alive . . . it’s a death sentence for them.” In North America, Florida still maintains the largest number of racetracks, although the number is declining.
“They deserve a second chance . . . rescue dogs always make the best pets,” Hnatyshyn said as the two greyhounds lounged on their blankets or interacted with guests.
She described the rigorous process involved in getting dogs certified as therapy animals, involving socializing with other dogs and with humans. Even the informal therapy of Puppy Days at the University of Winnipeg serves a useful purpose.
According to research from institutions such as Harvard University and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, interacting with animals can benefit people mentally, physically, and emotionally. Even being in the presence of animals like the furry participants at Puppy Days can help.
(Check out “The human-companion animal bond: how humans benefit” by Friedmann, E. and H. Son, and “Therapy dog offers stress relief at work” by Junge, Christine and Ann Macdonald).
Not all of the canines at Puppy Days technically qualified for the event, with the dogs ranging from about seven months to several years old to retired seniors, but all of them appeared to be enthusiastic about the chance to interact with others.
Although there was some barking and a few attempted escapes of one of the dogs, in general, the event was well managed and orderly.
When the next Puppy Day comes, whether this spring or in the fall, both dogs and people will be happy to have another chance to meet and enjoy each others’ company.