News article
Hounds of Love: Therapy dogs give Sussex students a warm reception despite freezing temperatures
Sussex students enjoy a cuddle from some hound-some visitors
University of Sussex students were on cloud canine after spending some quality time with some adorable dogs.
Eighty students signed up for one of four 30-minute sessions this morning (Thursday 1 March) to relax with the dogs in the University’s Meeting House in an event organised by the University of Sussex Students’ Union.
Volunteers from two charities, Canine Concern and Pets as Therapy, brought to the event six dogs: Nala (Golden Retriever), Nacho (Labradoodle), Skip (Parson Russell Terrier) and Xian nu, Yosei and Magica (all Pointers).
As well as the University of Sussex, the dogs are also used to visit care homes, schools, hospitals and law courts.
Dog therapy events occur frequently on the campus throughout the year; the Students’ Union has organised four so far this academic year.
The Dog Therapy event is one of more than 30 being held across the campus for Wellbeing Week.
Grainne Gahan, Students' Union Welfare Officer, said: “The therapy dogs provide a really calming effect on everyone.
“We find that students really benefit from these sessions. It can be quite stressful time at university and they might be missing a pet they have back at home, so this can be a really positive event.
“The dogs are quite excitable at the start, but they calm down as they get more and more strokes - and by the end of it they are quite sleepy and relaxed.”
For more information on Wellbeing Week events visit www.sussex.ac.uk/wellbeing/newsandevents/wellbeingweek2018