St. John Ambulance therapy dogs are providing students with comfort and stress relief
Patrick Strangways cuddles a therapy dog with working with St. John Ambulance at Casa Loma campus. Photo by Brittany Barber/The Dialog
Do the demands of exams and assignments have you feeling stressed or anxious? At George Brown College (GBC) students can take a paws from studying to show little and big dogs some love while relieving themselves from everyday stresses.
For three days every month, St. John Ambulance therapy dogs will visit all three main GBC campuses, relieving student stress and pain, while providing comfort and an increase of self esteem, according to the St. John Ambulance website.
Hosted by the peer assisted learning (PAL) centre, the dogs take turns at each campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where students can pet, take photos with, or just cuddle with them.
For students like Atilla Farago, a second year general arts and science student at GBC, visiting the therapy dogs is like a breath of fresh air.
“Their presence lights up the room and brings joy to everyone,” said Fargo. “I like to visit the dogs because it relieves my stress by seeing the smiles of the dogs. I enjoy petting them and making them feel loved. When I leave the room I feel happy and fortunate to have met these dogs and make them that much happier.”
The enjoyment doesn’t stop there.
The therapy dog team are no strangers to GBC. Visiting for the second time with St. John Ambulance in November.
Taz the Chihuahua has been putting their paws forward to help aid people in tense situations and when people just need a friend. Taz and his owner Elyse Reed have been a team for approximately two years, visiting people from colleges, universities, nursing homes and more.
Reed feels that the therapy dog program “is just as rewarding for us as it is for the people getting the therapy.”
“I know what it’s like, you feel better when you’re surrounded by animals, whether you’re stressed out or lonely,” said Reed.
Taz, an up-to-date dog is on Instagram as @TazToTheRescue
Reed loves to give back to the community. “I feel if people live, work and play in a community, they should give back to that community,” said Reed.
St. John Ambulance therapy dogs will be visiting GBC’s waterfront campus again:
- Dec. 9 at Waterfront’s student services area on the concourse level,
- Dec. 10 at St. James campus in the PAL Centre area in the basement (room B121)
- Dec. 11 at Casa Loma campus in the Career Services area on the third floor.
