College & University Therapy Animals Wellness Visits

🐾 Paws on Campus: Therapy Dogs at Universities

🐶 Stress Relief, Comfort, and Community Connection
College life is exciting but can also be stressful — from exams and deadlines to adjusting to campus living. Paws on Campus brings certified therapy dogs to universities, giving students, staff, and faculty a chance to de-stress, recharge, and connect through the unconditional comfort of a furry friend.

🐕 How It Works

• Campus Events & Wellness Fairs: Therapy dogs join student life events, mental health awareness weeks, or orientation activities.

• Study Break Sessions: Scheduled “pause with paws” breaks during midterms and finals to help students recharge.

• Drop-In Visits: Therapy dogs are stationed in libraries, student centers, or dorm lounges for casual, calming interactions.

• Counseling & Support Partnerships: Dogs can participate in programming with counseling centers, offering extra comfort during stressful or emotional times.

• Handler Supervision: All sessions are led by trained handlers to ensure safe and positive experiences for students and dogs.
  
  

🌟 Who Benefits

• Students managing stress, anxiety, homesickness, or adjusting to campus life

• Faculty & Staff who benefit from wellness and morale boosts

• Student Groups hosting campus events that want to foster connection and well-being

• Entire Campus Communities looking to strengthen school spirit and compassion
  
  

💖 Why It Works

• Reduces stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation

• Boosts mood and emotional resilience during challenging times

• Encourages mindfulness and work-life balance through intentional breaks

• Builds community and connection across campus through shared positive experiences
  
  

🌈 Campus Impact
Therapy dog visits show students that their well-being is a priority. These events foster a culture of compassion, belonging, and mental health awareness while creating memorable campus traditions that students look forward to year after year.

📚 Interested in Literacy Programs?
For schools seeking programs focused on reading and literacy, explore our Stampede to Read initiative 

click here

Backed By Science

Benefits of Therapy Dogs at Universities

Therapy dogs on university campuses offer profound emotional and physiological benefits, including stress reduction, mood enhancement, cognitive boosts, and inclusive support.

Canine-Assisted Therapy Reduces Stress and Anxiety (BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2025)

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that canine-assisted therapy (CAT) significantly reduces stress and anxiety levels in university students, particularly those with higher baseline distress. Benefits were noted across different session formats and settings.
"Interactions with therapy dogs and handlers may serve as a source of social support, resulting in reduced students’ anxiety and stress levels."
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Short Dog Sessions Boost Well-Being, Anxiety, and Mood (MDPI, 2017)

In a controlled study, university students who participated in short—20-minute—dog-assisted activity sessions experienced significant improvements in well-being and reductions in anxiety. Notably, interacting with the dog alone (without the handler) produced the strongest mood benefits.
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Therapy Dogs Improve Mood During Finals (PubMed – Multi-Campus University Study, 2025)

During a two-week exam period, students who engaged with therapy dogs scored significantly higher on mood assessments (PANAS) than those who did not—mean score of 77.63 vs. 69.41—demonstrating that therapy dogs help boost positive affect during high-stress times.
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Therapy Dogs Support Neurodiverse College Students (Psychology Today, 2025)

Programs featuring therapy dogs on campus offer stress relief and emotional support for neurodiverse students, helping reduce loneliness and bolster overall well-being through inclusive, nuanced interventions.
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Petting Therapy Dogs Enhances Thinking Skills of Stressed Students (Washington State University Research)

A study observed that therapy dog interaction programs significantly improved executive functioning—such as planning, organizing, motivation, concentration, and memory—in academically at-risk students, with benefits persisting up to six weeks post-intervention.

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Take a Paws @ Chico State: Therapy Dogs at The Well (Chico State Today, 2022)

Chico State’s wellness center, The Well, features the Take a Paws program, where therapy dog Dr. Venice visits weekly to offer students hugs, cuddles, and emotional support. This popular program helps students lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and find calm amid academic pressure.
"One of the most popular programs is Take A Paws. Venice is a therapy-trained golden retriever, and for two hours students can get their loves from Venice… It’s been a huge, impactful programming piece for us—it’s brought a lot of new students to The Well." 

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