Therapy Dogs Help Mont. Students With Test Stress

Associated Press

Friday April 26, 2013

At Montana State University, final exams stress is going to the dogs.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/11pDoHV) Intermountain Therapy Animals is bringing dogs to campus this week and next to help students take a break from the stress of studying for and taking semester exams.

Jacqueline Frank is the Renne Library commons assistant who started the "Paws to de-Stress" program this semester. She says research shows that animals can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

Frank says over a two-hour period on Thursday afternoon, 261 people stopped by to meet Ellie, a 6-year-old golden retriever and Sophie, a 4-year-old Maltese.

Sophomore Rebecca Johnson from Ferndale, Wash., said: "This is the best idea ever."

Butte sophomore Kaitlyn Okrush agreed, noting she has an organic chemistry final on Monday.

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