Wagging tails and dozens of nuzzles overwhelmed the Oasis Wellness Center today when dogs visited students to offer a break from their “ruff” studies and “lab reports” for the midterms this week.
Students crowded around the various types of therapy dogs, a golden tetriever, yellow labrador, schnoodle [Schnauzer and Poodle mix], cocker spaniels and German shepards, as they were brought into the Oasis courtyard.
The therapy dogs are a part of the nonprofit organization Love on a Leash, a program that works towards increasing public awareness of the benefits of pet provided therapy.
Kathy Spilos, a writer consultant, brought her 3-year-old German shepard Caelia.
“If you don’t pet them, you are not going to get an A on your midterms,” Spilos said.
The pets visit assisted living homes, hospitals, schools, libraries, day-care centers, and most recently colleges during midterms and finals to provide stress relief.
Gil Anema, the owner of the two, cocker spaniels’ said these dogs visited University of California, Santa Barbara last week and California State University Channel Islands in the past.
