10/20/2026
Facility Highlight:
"We first invited the therapy dog teams to campus as part of our Stress Relief Fair during Finals about 14 years ago. It quickly became clear how much students adored our furry friends. Dog therapy was a perfect fit for stress reduction. Petting dogs releases oxytocin, the "feel good" hormone and which can significantly impact mood.
Observing our students while interacting with therapy dogs revealed something even more beautiful -it fostered connections. Sitting together around dogs created relaxed social moments that allowed students to meet and created an opportunity for friendships to start. But since this was finals week, the students were soon going home making it difficult for those relationships to develop. That’s why I decided to have the dog teams come out during the 1st five weeks of the semester. It has been a hit ever since.
We knew that the students love their experiences with the dogs, and they have meaningful conversations with dog owners. For the students who return to the event after event and some year over year, these volunteers become cheerleaders, mentors, and supporters.
And of course, there are the effects on their feelings, their experiences, and their relationships. We have learned from conversations with students how impactful the experience has been for students who are doing well, who are lonely and use the events to get through the homesickness period, and a small number who overcome their fear of dogs by exposure to these gentle souls. Feedback from our surveys shows that an overwhelming 99.9% of students report improved mood after attending these events and over 78% have met at least one person, with some making more than 6!
For students who may be feeling lonely, overwhelmed, homesick, or just love dogs, these gatherings serve as a wonderful opportunity to connect and find support. We love seeing the positive impact it has on our students."
- Rachael McNamara
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
