Pets ease stress of final exams

Columbus Dispatch

GRANVILLE, Ohio

There are some things you just don’t see often on campus, Becky Ramsey said. Like really old people. Or babies. Or pets.

So when a dozen little beasts were trotted into the Denison University library last week, Ramsey and two friends showed up to ooh and coo and run their fingers through some puppy fur.

“It’s a fun break,” said Emily Sferra, a senior from Toledo.

The women pawed at a 2-year-old pile of fuzz called Oscar, so named because the goofy Labradoodle reminded his owners of a Muppet. They moved on to the next pup, a big golden retriever that looked like it was smiling. And though this was nice, smooshing their faces against cute dogs rather than blurry computer screens, they couldn’t beat away the unwelcome thought of finals week.

“I’m still pretty stressed,” said Ramsey, a senior from Chicago with one exam and three papers looming in the next week.

Colleges and universities have long tried to ease the tension of students facing make-or-break tests by offering everything from massages to yoga classes during finals week. This year at Ohio State University, stressed-out students were invited to take out their frustration on friendly pets.