The CDC suggests that pet ownership can come with a slew of benefits, including companionship, lowered stress levels, and increased happiness. Veritas Prep, a test, and college prep institution, recommends taking days off in college to prevent burnout, allow time to pursue interests, recharge and reorganize– academically and mentally. EMU saw the value in both and gave students a pause day last Thursday, one of several this semester in lieu of a typical spring break due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, during which faculty and staff were encouraged to bring their pets for students to interact with throughout the day. The event was wittily dubbed “PAWS” Day; like a good student, I took notes for the title of this article.

The need for such mental health and pause days has become a growing topic amongst teachers and experts across the education spectrum, especially in regard to student health and success. The role of burnout and mental overexertion in the deterioration of the physical, emotional, and academic wellbeing of students and young adults is a prominent concern for both parents and educators. That concern has only grown exponentially with the lingering pandemic and a drastic loss of ability to socialize and pursue extracurricular activities or interests; these things often help with the toll of school-related stress.

Now, burnout and many of its impacts are exacerbated with the emergence of online schooling and the persistent pressures of pandemic-related restrictions. So, what can be done? EMU’s answer is to promote and provide legitimate time for these mental breaks and whatever that may entail for a students’ specific needs and challenges. With that, they’ve begun to incorporate other methods by which to encourage taking breaks and engaging in activities besides schoolwork. The method this time around was the use of pets, mostly dogs, which as aforementioned carries notable psychological benefits. Along with chilling with cute animals, students were given the opportunity to be in a social setting besides the classroom or their dorm/bedroom (frequently one and the same). On the basketball and tennis courts, during several one-hour time slots, a variety of dogs could be visited, several of which I was able to photograph, spend some time and get moderate sunburn with.

During that time, I was also able to talk to several EMU students about their thoughts on the pause day and the role of pets in general in being great friends and even better sources of relief. A group of students playing with a small white pup named Tucker told me that the pause day was a much-needed “time to mentally check out, especially after midterms,” and being “stressed out all the time.” They also noted the importance of pumping up their serotonin levels, particularly with animals. Another group that was playing with Thatcher, a German Shepherd mix and certified therapy dog, suggested that they would have preferred a longer spring break to the several scattered pause days, but seemed content with the results given the circumstances that prompted the change. I myself capitalized on the excuse to spend the day taking pictures instead of doing homework that would eventually be turned in late and learned a valuable lesson about the ability of dogs named Chewbacca to find and urinate on my bookbag. 

Though the event was primarily hosted by dogs, a pet rock named Rock “the Dwayne” Johnson also made an appearance; ironically, this was the only pet I was able to secure a substantial background on. He was raised by a dual-personality single dad, Mr. Rocky Balboa/Sylvester Stastone, and had a brother, Steve Cold Stone Austin. While more information was provided by the owner, Tyler Goss, it’s far too tragic to detail here. He did offer this sentiment: “He’s the solid foundation I can lean on, and I don’t take his friendship for granite.”

Good-natured humor aside, “PAWS” Day was a serious attempt by the university at providing students with an opportunity and a space to relieve the stress of the semester and cope with the tense social, political, and medical environment all of us are living through. While a return to normalcy is still a ways off, the day was a small step in a direction of hope, and sometimes small steps are all it takes to see the bigger picture and brighter future.