As finals week descends on the University of Chicago campus, students face growing stress from exams and papers. But at the Regenstein Library, therapy dogs fill the entryway, making those stressful deadlines go away for a few minutes.
For those precious few minutes, worksheets, study guides and problem sets are replaced with wagging tails and fluffy ears, something that doesn’t just sound fun but is supported by growing scientific evidence.
The Pet Love program, headed by Health Promotion Coordinator Carolyn Banner, shows the growing impact of animal impact on mental health. Activities like these aren’t just for students to take a break: studies show a strong correlation between spending time with pets and mental health benefits, especially for students navigating academic stress.
“It’s like clear night and day, they’re stressed out coming in, and so as they walk out of the door, there’s usually a huge smile,” Ms. Banner said.
According to a 2024 study from Washington State University and published in the journal Pets, first-year college students with access to therapy dogs demonstrated reduced rates of depression, stress and even increased self-compassion. The study tracked first-year college students through their first semester, and concluded that consistent interaction with therapy dogs, ranging from 3-6 times per month, helped reduce the depression and stress that many freshmen experience.
Ms. Banner sees these benefits with the students who come in during finals week to engage with the dogs.
“Being around the dogs is really beneficial in terms of just improving mood. It also helps release oxytocin and lower stress,” Ms. Banner said. “I think boosting mood and lowering stress are, transiently, the biggest benefits.”
Senior Hayla Shah also feels the impact of having a pet at home. Her dog forces her to take time for herself, forcing herself to take a break from stress and deadlines.
“I just get so happy when I see him,” Hayla said. “When I walk through the door, he’s happy to see me, so I think it’s just like the little things — the little distractions — that dogs provide for you that I think are really important.”
Students like Hayla, who have pets back at home while they’re in college, use the playtime with therapy dogs on campus as a way to feel closer to their own pet. Ms. Banner feels programs that Pet Love have a lot of benefit for students like this, purely because they miss their dog.
“A lot of students anecdotally talk with the handlers while they’re hanging out with the dogs, and a lot of them will be missing their dogs from home, especially college students who have a dog and can’t be around them as much,” Ms. Banner said.
Students like junior Connor Lane who have dogs at home really appreciate the distraction of their dog, especially when it comes to stressful work.
“I find myself taking a break from schoolwork to spend time with my dog in order to de-stress,” Connor said.
