Joyner Library offers pet therapy to relieve exam stress

Time spent with a dog or cat can help students unwind from the stresses of exam time. Joyner Library is offering three pet therapy sessions during the spring 2014 exam period. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)

May 1 marks the start of spring semester exams at ECU, prompting for many students a stress-filled week of late-night studying. To help alleviate that stress, Joyner Library is offering some furry help from pet therapy dogs May 1, 5 and May 6.

In the Pet Therapy sessions, ECU outreach librarians team with Pet Partners to provide trained animals and handlers who visit campus to interact with students. The goal of the interaction with cats and dogs – and with the human owners —  is to help students unwind in a friendly social setting. Snacks are provided. Participants may register for prizes, send home a free postcard or post a photo to the library’s Instagram account.

Scheduled events are noon to 1 p.m. May 1, with Callie and Breeze the black lab; 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. May 5 with JJ the boxer; and 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. May 6 with Aggie the cat, Waldo the lab/corgi and Yazzie the Doberman.

For more information contact Carolyn Willis, outreach coordinator at willisc@ecu.edu, or 252-328-0400 or Kathryn K. Webb, interim head of service at kavanaghk@ecu.edu or 252-328-0734.

— Dawn Wainwright