The UP Library helps students PAWS for a study break during the examination season

The Department of Library Services in collaboration with the largest dog therapy organisation in Gauteng, TOP Dogs, brought therapy dogs onto the Hatfield campus on the mornings of 5, 6, 7 June 2019 to provide animal-assisted therapy to the University of Pretoria students starting examinations that week.

Research indicates that human-animal interaction has a relaxation and stress reduction effect even after as little as 5 minutes of interaction with a therapy dog. Although animal-assisted therapy is mainly used in healthcare and elderly care settings, more and more modern international academic and public libraries use therapy dogs as a way of engaging student interaction. Some of the benefits include:

• Decreased loneliness
• Increased social interaction and behaviour
• Promotion of emotional well-being
• Mood elevation
• Stress relief

The primary objective of TOP Dogs is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing their dogs with those in hospitals, care facilities, other institutions such as schools and now for the first time ever at the University of Pretoria. Therapy dogs are carefully selected and fully trained and their role is to provide emotional support to people. They are calm, friendly and well-mannered and registered with a therapy dog group such as Top Dogs. With this initiative the Department of Library Services takes the emotional well-being of our students during the examination time, to the next level.

Hundreds of students attended the three therapy dog sessions on the lawn in front of the old Merensky 2 Library of the Hatfield campus. Some of the breeds were Labrador, Great Dane, Retriever, Border Collie, Beagle, Boxer, Africanis, Weimaraner, Jack Russel Terrier, Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

There was tremendous interest in the initiative among students on the UP Library Services’ social media channels. It was even featured on TUKS meme accounts and other student social media groups.

Students participated in a survey indicating that the interaction with the dogs reduced their stress levels and improved their emotional well-being. Here are a few of the comments received:

“My excitement for this is unreal“ – Emma Alberts

“I have never been more excited to go to Tuks!” - Courtney Tomaz

“Honestly the best thing I have see (if you don't hear from me between these hours on these days, you know where I will be)” – Zelbe Boshoff

“What an incredible idea” – Tyler Mirtle

“Coolest idea! Well done UP Library services  - Ashleigh Laurent

“Only thing getting me through exams” – Caira Goncalves

This initiative was featured in Beeld of 8 June 2019 and the Sunday Times of 9 June 2019. The Department of Library Services is pleased that our students perceived these therapy dog sessions as a pawsitive experience!

View the photographs https://www.facebook.com/pg/UPLibraryServices/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156329185781705