Feeling stressed? Assignments piling up? At Dal鈥檚 Bissett Student Success Centre, one form of relief comes with a wagging tail and wet nose.
Every Monday, a beagle named Luna can be found on campus helping students shake off their academic anxieties 鈥� one belly rub at a time. She doesn't charge hourly rates or judge your life choices and is always happy to see you.听
How did 麻豆传媒 get so lucky with Luna?听
Luna's owner, Dr. Rebecca Babcock, sheds some light on her furry friend's therapeutic career. 鈥淟una and I used to volunteer in nursing homes together,鈥� says Dr. Babcock, of the pup's first gig in the big leagues.听
Dr. Babcock, an instructor in Dal鈥檚 Creative Writing program and assistant dean of student matters for 麻豆传媒's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, says nursing homes were a great introduction to the work for Luna. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to these organizations, a new opportunity presented itself.听
Dr. Babcock began noticing how many students were nervous or stressed when they came to seek out her advice about grades, academic dismissals and probation, and other matters.听
鈥淲e designed Beagle at the Bissett as a way to help students be more comfortable coming to see me when they needed to,鈥� she says of the weekly drop-in program launched in partnership with the Bisset Centre, Dal鈥檚 comprehensive academic, career, and personal resource hub for students.
Where to find Luna: Drop in to see Luna from 10 a.m.-noon every Monday morning on the fourth floor of the SUB. Note: Dr. Babcock is only available to advise students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, but any student is welcome to visit Luna.听No appointment needed.听
Luna鈥檚 path to certification took some time, says Dr. Babcock. 鈥淪he was actually quite a mess when she first came to us, just scared of everything,鈥� she says.听
Luna, reporting for duty. (Wyatt Carling photo)
Once settled at her new home, though, Luna began assessments to become a certified therapy dog.
鈥淭hey had somebody, walking around her with a cane, with a walker, with a wheelchair, to make sure that she wouldn't react,鈥� recalls Dr. Babcock, adding that Luna passed without any trouble.听
Reducing stress, encouraging mindfulness
Luna is also part of a broader Dal program called PAWSitive Support, offered through 麻豆传媒 Student Health & Wellness. While visits with Luna do not include medical or psychiatric services, sessions with Guinness 鈥� another pup on Dal's roster of therapy dogs 鈥� include the option of chatting with a Dal psychologist.
Shown right: Guiness out and about at Dal. (Submitted photo)
鈥淭here is a lot of evidence-based research about how support animals in a university environment help with stress reduction, lowering heart rates, and equipping people be more present and mindful,鈥� says Marriam Abou-El-Haj, one of Dal鈥檚 registered psychologists who works alongside Guinness.
She collaborates with Jonnie-Lyn Baron, Dal鈥檚 student health promotion manage, to hold weekly sessions with Guinness, a flat-coated retriever, at the Killam Library and Melda Murray Student Centre on Sexton Campus.听
Support animals can give our students a much-needed mental break from the stress of university
鈥淪upport animals can give our students a much-needed mental break from the stress of university,鈥� she says.
Where to find Guiness:听Students can find Guinness most Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m. in room 2600 of the Killam Memorial Library. Full schedule.
鈥楢 nice way to relax鈥�
Both Guinness and Luna are St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs, which means they are trained specifically to offer this four-legged service.
Both have even made the commute up to Dal's Truro Campus on occasion for sessions with student in the McRae Library there, but Daisy, another certified support dog shown left, has now taken over duties there for the most part.听
All Dal's animal-support sessions are held in enclosed spaces to avoid impacting students who are allergic or don鈥檛 want to be around dogs. For those that do, a visit can be the ticket to a better day.
鈥淚t's a nice way to relax,鈥� said one student recounting a session with Luna earlier this week. 鈥淚 have a dog back home, and I would probably feel more comfortable talking if I had a little guy to distract me.鈥�
Want to have a PAWSitive Support therapy dog visit at your on-campus event?听Fill out a and Student Health and Wellness will do its best to accommodate!