For the stressed college student far from home and the comfort of their own pets, sometimes the chance to cuddle a furry friend can be the difference between a good afternoon and a complete breakdown. Every few weeks, students at Houghton have just this opportunity. The psychology club has organized an event where students need only to take a trip to the main lounge in Gillette to be surrounded by puppies and kittens. This event began when members of the counseling center discovered a new Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shelter being built in Belmont, and realized an opportunity to provide overstressed students with a few moments of relaxation.
The director of the counseling center, Bill Burrichter, was instrumental in the creation of this event. “We [the counselors] met with Linda, the director and president of the local SPCA,” he said. “She gave us a tour of the new building, and we talked about ways in which we could partner together. So, it was simply a meeting where we expressed a desire to have animals on campus periodically for emotional support for students. She was pleased to help out whereas they like to have the animals socialized with people so that when they go to a forever-home they are familiar with safe and caring people.” Burrichter also added once the new facility is completed, the counseling center hopes that students will be able to volunteer, helping to care for the animals as they await adoption.
Right away, the event became wildly popular. Kevin Biondolillo ‘17, a member of the psychology club, recalled its astounding success. “I believe the event began with a Stress Fair two years ago when the counseling center had a couple of puppies in their office with a five minute time slot per student in line. The line was over an hour long, so the counseling center knew students really wanted more animal events.” Biondolillo described how the event developed from the Stress Fair format into a circle of chairs and a pile of Bernese Mountain dog puppies, and from this into the event in Gillette lounge.
Burrichter cited the science behind how beneficial the opportunity to pet these animals is. He said, “We know from scientific research that the act of petting an animal can release Oxytocin (a neuropeptide or chemical in the brain) which produces a sense of calm, comfort and focus. In addition, there is research that suggests that interacting with a pet can also release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin (that helps alleviate depressive or anxious symptoms).”
According to BestFriends.org, events like this also helps socialize the animals at the shelter, making them friendlier and more accustomed to being around humans in a loving environment. For shelter animals hoping to be adopted, this socialization is all too important. By being around humans, being pet, held, given treats, and played with, these shelter animals develop the ability to interact well with humans. It makes them less anxious around people and this in turn makes them more adoptable, giving them an opportunity to find a new permanent home.
For many students, going to the SPCA at Houghton events can turn a bad week into a fantastic one. Some are reminded of their own pets at home, and others are just glad of the opportunity to interact with these adorable, curious, furry creatures. There is significant work for the psychology club in organizing and cleaning up after the event, but for Kevin Biondolillo, it is absolutely worth it. “My favorite part is seeing the look on a student’s face when they first see a puppy, cat, or even rabbit,” he said. “More uninhibited joy and selfless affection is seen in that moment than I have seen at many other Houghton events.”