Two four legged guests stepped foot on campus today. Their names are Summer and April, and they are a dog and cat. Their goal? Bring comfort to students on campus.
The University Religious Center, or URC, hosts monthly ComuniTEA events for Trojans to be in community with one another. Today, they partnered with LoveOn4Paws to help students escape the stress of the academic environment, at least for a bit. Associate Dean of University Religious Center, Vanessa Gomez Brake explains why she enjoys planning this event,
VANESSA GOMEZ: I think the joy is one, I love dogs and so being able to bring animals onto campus is a joy, but also the opportunity to connect with students who otherwise probably wouldn’t come to the university religious center because maybe they’re not involved with a student group or they’re not looking for some of our programs.
Partnering with LoveOn4Paws, allows students to connect with the furry friends that they might not have been allowed able to bring with them to USC. Prachotan Bati is a graduate student in Computer Science.
PRACHOTAN BATI: I have a dog at home. So it’s been a while since I’ve seen my own dog and had a chance. But, um, so I just come here whenever I have the opportunity to come in. But I feel like I’m at home again.
LoveOn4Paws has not only partnered with URC, but also with Keck School of Medicine. Laura Stout explains the significance for students to connect with their therapy dogs.
GOMEZ: The more often you come with the same dog, they get to know you and they come because it’s just such a relief to them to forget about studying, forget about the stress and the pressures and just come hang out with the dog for a little while.
What a beautiful way to relieve some stress with the help of some furry friends.