'College Canine' program eases the stress for those hitting the books

[Bravo Zulu]

Tis the season to be stressed out, especially for college students studying for final exams before heading home for the holidays. At the University of Pittsburgh, students are provided with one of the nicest stress-busting programs imaginable.

Students play with dogs in the beautiful Commons Room on the first floor of the magnificent Cathedral of Learning.

One week before finals, a 185-pound Great Pyrenees named Apache sprawled on his back, all but begging students to rub his belly. Amy Fanigan, of Baldwin Borough, was the first student to drop to her knees to comply with the wishes of the fluffy white dog.

"I'm a regular. I've been coming to see the dogs since last spring, and Apache is my favorite," Miss Fanigan said.

Every Tuesday night from 7 to 8 p.m., university officials let the dogs into the Commons Rooms, a heavily used study area. If I were a Pitt student, that's where I'd study. It looks like a set for a Harry Potter movie or a meeting place for the mythical King Arthur and his knights.

"The dogs are definitely a stress buster," Miss Fanigan said.

About 25 dogs participate in the program, which is called College Canine. All of the dogs and their owners attended training classes at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, and all passed a tough test that won them certification from Therapy Dogs International.

Many of the dogs have been adopted from shelters and from rescue groups that find new homes for dogs whose owners are unwilling or unable to care for them.

Apache is a rescue dog, as is Krypto, another Great Pyrenees. They live in the South Side with Lynn Pilarski, who rescued them and many other Great Pyrenees through the Great Pyrenees Club of Western Pennsylvania.

Krypto is a gentle giant and a charmer who campaigns for his share of attention. Students gasp when they realize he has only three legs.

"He was found along an interstate with a wounded front leg," Ms. Pilarski tells them. "The injury was so bad, the leg had to be amputated."

"Who could do that to a dog?" one of the students wondered aloud.

The Tuesday night program attracts as many as 300 students per night, said Marsha Robbins, humane educator at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. She brings her cocker spaniel, Sandy, and her Havenese-poodle mix, Maui, to the Cathedral every week.

Alina Vaisleib, a junior from Pittsburgh, lit up when she saw Ms. Robbins.

"Sandy is my favorite," Miss Vaisleib said.

"Both of my dogs are from shelters," said Ms. Robbins, who points to her dogs as perfect examples of the great dogs available at shelters. "Maui was 5 months old when she was taken to a shelter. Her owners said she was untrainable and out of control. Now she's a therapy dog."

Jess Edelstein, a sophomore from Philadelphia, said, "I purposely make time in my schedule every week to see the dogs. They are all so amazing. They are really important to me because I get homesick and they remind me of my own dogs."

It's amazing how the wag of a tail and the thrust of a cold wet dog nose can raise spirits and lower stress. Some of the dogs also make regular visits to hospitals and nursing homes.

A big round of applause to Pitt officials for letting dogs visit the Cathedral, to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society for helping to train and certify the dogs, and to the owners who take time to share their wonderful dogs with students.

Some of the other dogs and owners that I met this month:

• George, a 210-pound mastiff, and Ruby, a 180-pound mastiff, with Amy Coglio and her daughter, Emily, 14, of Mount Washington;

• Jake, a standard poodle, with Carol Culp, of Esplen;

• Honeybear, a wire-haired dachshund, with Gladys Carlen, of Crafton;

• Lily, a standard poodle, with Eric Truscott, of Shaler;

• Oslo, a golden retriever, with Valerie Couch, of Brighton Heights;

• Tebow, a beagle, adopted by Andrea Cummings, of Hampton, from BREW Inc., or Beagle Rescue, Education and Welfare.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08346/934195-62.stm

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Fantastic. This is such a great idea....

When my son as in college his fraternity adopted a stray dog, and my son was in charge of taking care of him/her. I guess that it must have helped to enjoy school more.

[livetohike]

2. What a great idea!

I missed my dog so much when I was in college (a long, long time ago). It would have been nice to have this program - especially during finals.

[MountainLaurel]

3. This is terrific

Mr. Laurel just started law school, and we had several classmates over to watch election returns. They were all so excited to hang out with the Laurel animals, because they didn't have the time or the housing to have their family pets with them. One of them e-mailed us later to tell us she's housesit and watch the dogs any time we needed to go out of town.

[hamsterjill]

4. Wonderfully, creative idea!!!

May the idea catch on with others following.

[undeterred]

5. Much better than college kids getting dogs of their own

before they are ready to make a long term commitment to a pet. My roomie and I got a border collie during our senior year of college... I ended up keeping her long term but looking back, I don't recommend it as the best time to get a dog!