The University of Memphis Libraries held a “Pause for Paws” event on Thursday, allowing students and faculty to pet, de-stress and hang out with seven canines, courtesy of West TN Therapy Dogs.
The event was led by Michelle Dry, the Community Relations Coordinator at the University of Memphis Libraries, who invited West TN Therapy Dogs to visit the campus to help students during the week preceding final exams.
“I bring in the West TN Therapy Dogs every study day, and it's a great way for everybody to take a moment, take a breath, and pause and pet a dog,” said Dry.
West TN Therapy Dogs is a local chapter of the national organization, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, and a volunteer team of over 50 trained and experienced members who specialize in Animal Assisted Therapy and use therapy dogs at hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and schools for students who need to de-stress.
“The dogs have been super friendly and sweet, to pet them and hang with them is very leveling,” said Taylor Okelly, a senior history major at Memphis, who was visiting with pups. “It has been nice to have around; you can relax a little bit and de-stress.”
Tonia Hanson, a Memphis alumnus and volunteer with the West Memphis Alliance of Therapy Dogs, brought her puppy, Roy, to provide some smiles and cute pet-able ears for students and faculty to enjoy.
For some Tigers, this was a first-time experience.
“There was a student today that said she had never picked up a dog before, so she wanted it on video the first time she picked up the dog,” said Hanson. “It is moments like that that just make me happy; it is wonderful. It brings me so much happiness.”
Hanson and the rest of the West TN Therapy Dog group in attendance hoped that bringing these furry good boys and girls to campus for this semester’s event would help students relax as finals approached.
“This time of year, especially because the holidays and exams, it can be a lot,” said Hanson. “I do feel like coming in and just taking a mind break for a little bit, it just helps. We just wanna do good things for Memphis.”
Students can expect the West TN Therapy Dogs to return for even more playtime and pets during the Spring semester’s exam week.
