Furry friends help students combat exam stress at Richmond Hill library
St. John Ambulance brings therapy dogs to high schools

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 27, 2016
Kim Zarzour  

Need help studying for exams? All stressed out?

Brock, Maddie and Dexter might be able to help. So, too, could Smiley, Tucker, Boss or Pal.

Your study notes might get a little furry, but your mind will be a lot less foggy with their unique brand of canine counselling.

Therapy dogs are starting to work their magic among stressed-out students in York Region.

The first lucky teens were hitting the books at Richmond Hill Public Library’s central branch Monday night when Brock the Golden Retriever, Maddie, the Portuguese Water Dog and Dexter, a Border Collie mix, trotted in.

“Research shows it does de-stress and leaves people with good thoughts after time with dogs,” said Bob Darlington, coordinator with St. John Ambulance York Region. One study, for example, published in the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, found that spending time with a trained pet therapy animal resulted in decreases in self-reported anxiety and loneliness among college students.

Library spokesperson Ivy Cuervo said the library invited the dogs as part of an effort to support high school students, that also includes extended library hours during exams.

“There is a lot of pressure to do well on tests,” she said. “We’ve also done a similar program for young children during story time that is always highly popular. Plus, they’re so cuddly, who can resist?”

Marion McLean, an assistant coordinator with St. John’s therapy dogs Aurora-Newmarket, who participated in this week’s library program, says the “warm fuzzy feeling” helps defog the brain.

“Dogs respond to touch, especially certain breeds. They relax themselves, sprawl on the floor and say ‘rub my belly’. It is a distraction, gets students out of their heads and what they were thinking about at the time.”

Therapy dogs have been comforting hospital patients and nursing home residents for several years and McLean has witnessed the benefit first-hand.

One patient with Parkinsons noticed her tremors were greatly reduced after petting a therapy dog.

“She said it worked better than her medications.”

This week’s library visit was the first of several such visits planned by the York Region organization.

Therapy dogs are being scheduled for more de-stress visits during the year-end exams at the library, as well as Newmarket High School, Aurora High School, Langstaff Secondary in Richmond Hill and Father Bressani Catholic High School in Woodbridge, Darlington says.

The dogs will also visit with students at York University.

“They create a ‘puppy room’ where they can spend some time with the dogs, pet them and chat with them, and hopefully provide some stress relief.”

To learn more, or to inquire about volunteering as a therapy dog provider, visit St. John Ambulance website sja.ca