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Pop-up puppy petting offers students stress relief
Students at the University of Bristol frolicked with puppies in a bid to relieve stress ahead of the May exam season.
Organisers University Cribs brought in dogs and pups of various breeds, including Chihuahuas and a fluffy Cockapoo who quickly became a firm favourite with the students.
Students excitedly climbed the stairs to the second floor in the Student’s Union building, stopping to take a photo of the #PuppyPettingDay posters that marked the way.
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After taking their shoes off, they were let into the pens to cuddle, with supervision from Shiralee Baxter, the puppies’ owner who had brought them along for a day of play.
After ten short minutes – “Is the time up already?” one female student wondered aloud – the students left with big smiles on their faces, and the next wave entered the room with squeals of delight when they saw the cute little faces and wagging tails that were waiting for them.
“Puppies are the best way to relieve stress!” explained event organiser Grace Taylor. “You can walk into a room and a puppy jumps up at you, and you just forget all of your worries. May exam time is the most stressful period for students, especially for those in their third year, so we thought we’d put loads of puppies in a room and they could relieve some stress.”
The event was part of Bristol Student’s Union’s Mind Your Head fortnight, which is encouraging students to participate in sessions including mindfulness, forest hikes and panel discussions, which will make them more aware of their own mental health and wellbeing at one of the most stressful times of the academic year.
Alongside this fortnight, the university has pledged an extra £1m per year to enhance support and services, including extra staff at its counselling service, for student wellbeing.
Read more: Stolen puppy found
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