From the likes of George Tirebiter to Beau, dogs have graced the USC campus for many years, offering their cuddly consolation and help to the faculty group. But regardless of their ingrained relationships with college students previously, the presence of dogs on campus has fluctuated from remedy instruments to mascots.
With over 10,000 followers on Instagram, @beau_usc was initially established as an internet account for Beau, USC’s earlier official wellness canine who turned successful amongst college students.
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However, in recent years, the possession of the Instagram account has shifted to professor Rumi Tirebiter, USC Student Health’s official mascot — which changed the position of wellness canine.
His beloved predecessor Beau retired from his position in 2020 and is fortunately dwelling together with his handler, USC’s personal Amanda Vanni, the manager director of strategic partnerships in college relations. While Beau and Rumi have earned a particular place within the hearts of USC college students, there may be at present no formal remedy canine program at USC.
Despite the dearth of everlasting animal companies, many college students search to fill the hole of help and emotional consolation that wellness dogs had beforehand bridged.
Organizations such because the Humane Society of USC host occasions permitting college students to spend time with dogs. Skyler Nahouray, a sophomore majoring in well being promotion and illness prevention research, established USC’s Humane Society chapter in Spring 2023. Under Nahouray’s presidency, the chapter organizes occasions that includes visitor appearances of remedy dogs on campus.
Reflecting on the enthusiastic response from college students, Nahouray highlights the continual help from the USC group.
“After the first event, students have always been asking me ‘When is the next event?’ They’re always seeking,” Nahouray mentioned.
One such occasion, held at Founders Park on March 21, featured an array of remedy dogs ready-to-meet college students, together with these from nationwide organizations just like the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to native teams equivalent to Love On 4 Paws. Rescue dogs from Rover’s Retreat, an authorized nonprofit organization devoted to fostering and saving canine lives, have been additionally current.
Students have been bombarded with assignments since getting back from spring break, defined Nahouray, so it feels good when walking on campus to see joyful dogs desperate to play. According to Nahouray, “[the Humane Society of USC] truly makes the campus a happier place,” and the overwhelming positivity generated by these occasions is a testomony to their success.
Moreover, Nahouray mentioned his private expertise with the corporate of a remedy canine, whose calming presence helped ease pre-exam nerves.
“I just took a step back and I actually just held a puppy, and it just calmed me down,” Nahouray mentioned. “And then I was like, it is what it is, I think my studying was enough, and I went into the exam, and I took it. The dogs really helped me calm down.”
Alan Manning, a remedy canine handler on the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, takes an energetic position in attending remedy canine occasions and making weekly visits to colleges and a hospital in downtown Los Angeles, together with occasional visits to USC. He and his canine Maya have achieved almost 400 visits within the two years of her certification as a remedy canine.
Manning echoes comparable sentiments to Nahouray’s on the thrill of scholars interacting with remedy dogs, “I can just see them light up. People who know and like dogs smile a lot when they see them. There were people that were afraid of dogs, but Maya is the perfect dog to help them get over that fear,” Manning mentioned.
He emphasizes the reciprocal advantage of interactions between remedy dogs and college students, noting that remedy dogs like Maya obtain pleasure from participating with individuals.
“When we arrived … she’s verbalizing how excited she is about being there, and I can say that I’m benefiting just seeing her interacting with people the way she does,” Manning added.
Associate professor of medical occupational remedy Ashley Uyeshiro Simon — who teaches occupational science and leads a course known as “Animal and Human Interconnections in Daily Life” — has in depth expertise with animal-assisted remedy and attests to the optimistic impacts of remedy dogs on human well being.
“There’s a decent amount of research on therapy animal interactions. Even a brief interaction with a therapy dog can be an effective means of stress management,” Uyeshiro Simon mentioned.
Uyeshiro Simon continued and mentioned the relationships fashioned are advanced, primarily centered on the biochemical launch throughout the human mind.
“Particularly, we’re talking about oxytocin, which is that ‘love hormone.’ It’s the actual act of petting, like when you touch each other. You get an even enhanced oxytocin response when you make eye contact,” Uyeshiro Simon mentioned. “The dog and the human can have this sort of love response, which is so amazing. You get all of these other benefits like endorphins and serotonin.”
By encouraging college students to concentrate on the current second, remedy dogs assist alleviate anxiousness and foster a way of calmness. “And then you add on top of that, since I’m an OT, the sensory aspect. A dog will lick your hand or your pet the soft fur. There’s also sort of this bonding and relaxation response when you have that sort of tactile input,” Uyeshiro Simon mentioned.
As the semester marches on and deadlines loom, it’s straightforward for stress to pile up and weigh closely on many college students’ shoulders. Amid the high-pressure school way of life, college students like to spend a number of valuable moments with these tail-wagging companions, and even with out understanding the science behind why, we all know that their unconditional love and boundless pleasure are magically stress-relieving and therapeutic.
“We’re all young, having this workload is tough, so taking a break and seeing these dogs is awesome,” Nahouray mentioned.
