If Tuesday’s Stress-Free Zone day at the Kent State University library was the norm, the event’s effort to reduce student stress during finals week with the use of therapy dogs was a success.
You could barely see the dogs for the crowd of students gathered around them. The animals ranged from small dogs like a playful Havanese who loved sitting in laps, to a huge Newfoundland dog, which is similar in size to a St. Bernard, lying quite still as students petted his silky black, bear-like fur.
The Stress-Free Zone events — held Monday and Tuesday on the first floor of the university library — are offered as a study break for the students. This is the 12th year for therapy dogs on campus.
Students were sitting on the floor with the dogs, petting them and rubbing their bellies as the pets just sat or rolled on their sides or backs, taking it all in.
“The dogs are, like, ‘I don’t know you but I love you,’ ” said Kathleen Adamle, founder of Dogs on Campus. “It’s magic. The dog doesn’t have to talk; there is all this interaction and everybody’s happy.”
Adamle, a KSU professor who had 40 years of clinical experience before joining the College of Nursing for the past 16 years, had 13 dogs at the event Monday and Tuesday, and not all the same dogs each time. There are 26 certified dog handlers on her team.
Her pet, 5-year-old golden retriever Bridget, wore a tad of pink on her Dogs on Campus scarf because she is also a cancer survivor.
“Look at the survivor in her,” Adamle said as Bridget tried to follow a trail of spilled popcorn before settling in the lap of a student.
Michael Loeffler, 18, of Parma, said it was the second day in a row that he came to be with the therapy dogs.
“This is great. I came just to see and pet the dogs. I don’t have a dog at home, but I love dogs. It helps me relax. It’s truly an experience to be around animals.”
The dogs also visit a dorm a month on campus and Loeffler said he goes to those therapy visits as well. He knows which dorm they will be visiting because the organization has a Twitter account.
Emily Richardson, 18, of Pittsburgh, said she also goes to the dorm to visit the pet therapy dogs. She has a dog at home and misses her when she’s away at school. She said her dog is part of her family.
“I came to the library just because you get to pet the dogs; that’s the best part of this,” she said as she petted Luke, a chocolate Doberman. “It’s a stress relief. It helps me and I really just like dogs.”
Adamle said 8 million American families have a pet.
Snacks including freshly popped popcorn, chips, beverages and candy bars were also available for students at the two-day event. There were also Star Wars posters to give away.
One student shied away from the therapy dogs and said he wasn’t a fan of any dogs.
“I’m afraid of dogs, so I don’t think I’m going to get too close to them,” said Pavan Veerla, 23, of India, a graduate student in digital science. “I appreciate the snacks, but I want to stay on this side of the room.”
He was outnumbered, though. There were hundreds of students stopping by to pet the dogs.
“I’ve not been to this event before, but I love it,” said Ashley Casterline, 19, of Massillon. “I’ve never been around so many different dogs. It’s the first time I’ve ever pet a Doberman.”
As the students made a fuss over the dogs and the event, Adamle, who organizes it on the main campus as well as on the regional campuses, said the dogs easily give and accept love.
“It’s not genius, it’s common sense,” she said. “It’s a good thing.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.