What Is MU PAWs ?
MU PAWS is Marshall University’s campus Therapy Dog Program. Our teams are both campus and community members who volunteer time to providing this amazing resource at Marshall. Therapy dogs go into classrooms, attend campus events, and have Paw-ffice Hours in the residence halls and Wellness Center. The mission of MU PAWS is to use therapy dogs to partner with faculty, staff, and students to integrate and promote wellness at Marshall.
MU PAWS is comprised of teams of therapy dogs and therapy dog handlers. A Therapy dog has been specifically trained to provide emotional assistance, affection, and comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other institutions. A Therapy Dog Handler is an individual who is responsible for and in control of a therapy dog. All therapy dog teams participating in MU PAWS have been certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dogs International, or another equivalent organization. All MU PAWS therapy dog teams have passed tests, completed observations, and maintain current status with a therapy dog certification organization.
BENEFITS OF MU PAWS and Therapy Dog Programs:
- Aid students who struggle with homesickness and social anxiety.
- Provide canine companionship to those who cannot have an animal while at college.
- Aid students with LD, ADHD, and co-morbid issues like depression, anxiety, etc.
- Contribute to a general sense of belonging and positive environment on campus.
- Ease stress during midterms and final weeks.
- Help to de-stigmatize mental health issues and raise awareness for campus based mental heath resources.
- Assist with on-campus counseling services.
- Promote a positive learning environment.
- Provide support to veteran students and staff with PTSD.
- Help with pain recovery/management.
- Provide comfort to those who are mourning or experiencing crisis, death, and/or sickness.
- Provide a conversation opener for shy students.
- Petting a dog reduces blood pressure and contributes to lower levels of stress hormones and an increase in oxytocin.
- Contribute to student retention.
