WEST CHESTER, PA — Tails will be wagging as West Chester University students snuggle with therapy dogs at the annual Therapy Dog Extravaganza today, Dec. 15. Ten therapy dogs (and their owners) will be in Sykes Student Union Ballroom A and three therapy dogs on the first floor of the Francis Harvey Green Library.
It’s finals week for all students, some of whom are graduating the weekend of Dec. 18–19, adding to that holiday/year-end stress, so the WCU Counseling Center is bringing in a whole pack of cuddly, comforting canines to help students cope. The Therapy Dog Extravaganza runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (This is NOT an adoption event.)
“Our dog therapy program is by far our most popular outreach with students,” says Rachel Daltry, Psy.D., Counseling Center Director, licensed psychologist, and an associate professor and chair of the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services. “We get constant positive feedback and expressions of gratitude from students for having the dogs on campus. We have even heard from some students that having the therapy dogs visit campus influenced their decision to come to WCU.”
This semester, therapy dogs made 18 visits to campus. Daltry’s chocolate Labrador Retriever, Mr. Muddy Puddles, is on campus daily as an embedded therapy dog at the Counseling Center and will be at the Wednesday event in Sykes.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News.