College students are uniquely vulnerable to a wide array of stressors.
When every second, dime and spare thought you have is going toward earning your college degree, it can be difficult to find the time to properly decompress and meet new friends. To remedy this issue, Campus Health Promotion developed an on-campus space where NAU students can take a break with a brand-new best friend—one of man’s best friends, that is.
Aptly named Dogs in the Den, Campus Health’s semimonthly puppy-petting social is returning full-force this semester, bringing Lumberjacks nose-to-snout with adoptable dogs from the High Country Humane animal shelter.
Staff members drive the shelter’s pups along Highway 89 every other Wednesday to set up shop on the first floor of NAU’s Health and Learning Center. Students who pop their heads into the Health Promotion Office’s Zen Den can spend the next hour destressing with fluffy cuddle buddies, connecting with their peers and making a few arts and crafts projects.
Health Services Director Melissa Griffin said each super-soft shindig creates a fun, low-stress environment for those overwhelmed by their daily hustle and bustle.
“We are always looking for ways to create a healthy campus community by supporting students’ mental well-being and stress management,” Griffin said. “We are also very interested in contributing to students’ social connections, since loneliness has tremendous negative impacts on a variety of health outcomes. These events are low commitment, low barrier and help students build some of those important protective factors for improved wellness during their time at NAU.”
Health Promotion previously hosted its Dogs in the Den events in collaboration with Pet Partners, a national nonprofit that registers volunteer therapy animal teams made up of nine different species of pets and their owners. This semester, the department decided to pivot to shelter animals with the help of NAU Community Relations Director Ali Applin, who also serves as a board member for High Country Humane.
Applin said Dogs in the Den is a “win-win” for the participating students and dogs; on-campus residents not only get a free puppy playdate, but they are also increasing each puppy’s chance of adoption by boosting their social skills and helping them experience life outside the shelter.
“I love that this event supports students who may be missing their own pets or aren’t in a place to adopt right now,” Applin said. “At the same time, it gives the dogs a chance to get out of the shelter, experience new environments and soak up lots of attention and affection. I’m so grateful to Melissa and her team for hosting and to High Country Humane for transporting the pups and providing staff to make it all possible.”
Those wanting to make their week with a wet-nosed nuzzle can do so at Health Promotion’s next Dogs in the Den event from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4. For additional puppy time, dog-ear the rest of the event dates in your calendar:
- Feb. 18
- March 4
- March 18
- April 1
- April 15
- April 29