Dog Therapy at Oxy Proves Blissful for Students (Photos)

students had some unusual visitors Monday evening on an unusually cold, cloudy and wet day—dogs.

And not just any dogs, but about 20 pets trained to interact with humans and help them reduce stress—in this case the stress that students tend to experience around this time of the year as they study for their finals.

The dogs, accompanied by qualified handlers, mingled with students from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the first floor of Herrick Memorial Chapel—an interfaith center normally out of bounds to animals, except those who serve as guides.

Of various breeds and ages, the pooches were affiliated to Therapy Dogs International, a New Jersey-based voluntary organization devoted to providing psychological comfort through the presence of dogs in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions where people require therapy.

This is the first time therapy dogs have visited Oxy, where students can avail of a range of canine-free—and cost-free—stress relievers, including massage and Zumba classes.

Judging by the photos above, the dogs were a huge hit.