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Dogs are a student’s best friend

Feb 11, 2018 | 5:00 AM

They say that dogs are a man’s best friend, but the same could be said about their relationship with college students.
 
Ten days have been scheduled during the 2018 winter semester for a therapy dog to walk the halls of the Grande Prairie Regional College. In a partnership with St. John’s Ambulance, a canine is brought around the campus during “Puppy Days” to brighten the day of people in the building.
 
“We bring in the puppies. It’s cheerful, it’s happy — the faculty, students, and staff at the college will stop to pet the dogs. It is an encouraging mental health break for a lot of people,” explained Susan Bansgrove, Vice President Academics and Research.
 
The program has been running since 2013 and there are other places across Canada like the University of Saskatchewan and Bow Valley College that take part in something similar.
 
“I think they have a number of health benefits that have been identified,” said Bansgrove referring to dogs on campus. “They decrease people’s feelings of isolation or alienation. They connect people. People will talk to one another while they’re petting dogs. They reduce anxiety and decrease stress, especially during hectic times like exams.”
 
A therapy dog named Koda made his way through the halls in January.