Students at Iowa State University turned to an annual pet-friendly event this week to ease the stress of preparing for finals.
Barks at Parks is an event at the Iowa State University Library that takes place in the fall and spring semesters.
From Monday, April 29th to Friday, May 3rd, students can take a break from studying by spending time with emotional support dogs.
The event, which turned 10 this year, connects Iowa State students with licensed AKC Good Canine Citizens or trained therapy dogs in the week before finals, or “prep week.”
Hilary Seo, dean of the University Library, said Barks at Parks helps students deal with the stress of deadlines and end-of-semester exams.
“We are very focused on not only students’ success in class, but we are also concerned about their mental health,” Seo said. “This event is part (of how we help them). It’s a good opportunity for them.”
This semester, the Cyclone Country Kennel Club, American Rescue League of Iowa TheraPets, Des Moines Obedience Training Club and local volunteers with licensed canines provided about 35 dogs.
Library staff helped students relax with additional activities such as origami, coloring and puzzles, and the university’s Student Wellbeing department provided snacks.
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Barks at Parks helps hundreds of students every year
Seo estimated that more than 20,000 students participated in the Barks at Parks program, with an average of 225 students participating each day during prep week.
The dean is grateful for the library’s willingness to maintain the event for a decade.
“There were a lot of doubts that this was necessary, that students would bother to spend time going to see the dogs,” Seo said. “But (Barks at Parks) is just one of those painkillers for them.”
Seo has seen firsthand how dogs can have a positive impact on even apprehensive students.
“Some students are afraid of dogs and stay outside – they didn’t really grow up with pets or have an encounter with a large dog at some point in their lives,” Seo said. “I just encourage them to sit, they are very well behaved dogs. They accept me and have good experiences. This is not something we expected.”
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Returning volunteers see the impact of the annual event
Rhonda Crane was one of 30 owners who brought dogs to the University Library this semester. She shared her Havanese dogs, Champ and Forty, with the students. The duo is often used at Iowa Methodist Hospital Des Moines.
With 31 years of pet therapy, Crane has volunteered at every Barks at Parks event.
“We have a lot of kids who come back year after year because they know our dogs,” Crane said. “I think it’s exciting for them to see the dogs; like they did during their time at Iowa State, they come back and call our dogs by name.”
Elisabeth and Steven Lonergan are frequent volunteers with their boxer Ted. They are also Iowa State animal science professors. Elisabeth Lonergan said research shows that being around a calm, friendly animal can have a calming effect.
“I think (this event) is a really important thing for students because it’s a good stress reliever, said Elisabeth Lonergan. “I see firsthand in my work how students can really relax when they’re around animals, especially students. who have an animal at home.”
Crane said Barks at the Parks is a welcome distraction for students, especially those with pets or who plan to become pet owners.
“It can be very calming; it often brings back memories of their own pets,” Crane said. “These kids, most of them, don’t have pets at school, so they mess with their own dogs. Some of them ask a lot of questions about the dogs because they are looking forward to having pets in the future.”
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Celia Brocker is a government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in the Ames Tribune: Iowa State students’ favorite study break, Barks at Parks, returns
