Service dogs that help disabled children and adults can add a new skill to their résumés: helping college kids cope with the stress of their final exams.
Students at Emory University, along with UC Berkeley, Columbia University and several other schools are part of a growing trend of pet therapy organizations that visit campuses to let the students play with their dogs, CNN reported.
Students find it alleviates the stress they have from studying for finals.
"I'm all studied out" Ali Serpe, a senior at Emory, told CNN Thursday while petting a large dog with a golden mane. Serpe, an anthropology/human biology major, is on her last final. She also has medical school applications to turn in.
"This is exactly what I needed," she told CNN.
The dogs visiting Emory University are form Canine Assistants, a nonprofit from Alpharetta, Georgia provides service dogs for disabled children and adults. Students visited the dogs, about six, for up to 10 minutes, CNN reported.
"You see (students') shoulders drop and see them smile," Chris Daood, who works with the dog therapy program at Marquette University, told CNN. "This is a great way for them to keep life in perspective. That is really the most significant part of the program. With academic stress, it's not uncommon for students to get tunnel vision during finals."
Studies show the stress students have during finals weakens their ability to retain information. Doing something that is relaxing and reduces stress can help them better remember what they are studying, CNN reported.
Scientists say that caring for a pet helps lower fear and anxiety in humans because it takes their minds off their troubles, CNN reported. Playing with dogs raises levels of oxytocin, a hormone that decreases stress and blood pressure.
Alex Harrison, a junior at Emory, told CNN he has three finals left, but the dogs will get him to the end.
"This is the happiest I've been all week," he said.
