UScranton students take a 'paws' from classes to play with pups – fox56.com

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by Benjamin Freeman
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Students gathered on the quad for something a little better than a pep rally: dogs. Lots and lots of dogs.
From Shih Tzus to Schnauzers, and Leonbergers to Labradors, more than 30 canines came to campus for the semesterly pet therapy day, giving hundreds of students, professors and alumni a chance to kick off the year with wagging tails and plenty of smiles.

“These are some big dogs. And they’re awesome,” said sophomore Thomas Burke.
Organizers say the event is one people start asking about as soon as they return to campus, and it’s not hard to see the appeal. Many students are missing the pets they left at home.
“Most of us here on campus, we’re missing our own furry friends," said junior Alahna Pidich. "If you’re living on campus and you came from home, you probably left a dog or some type of pet behind, right? So having the dogs here makes all of us feel like we’re kind of at home."
For students like Nick Pasko and Maeve Cawley, who brought Harley, a shih tzu, and Winnie, a dachshund, it’s also a chance to connect with the campus community before midterms and colder weather arrive.
“Everybody enjoys seeing dogs, you know, and it’s a good way to relieve stress, especially with like midterms coming up and everything. So I think it’s good to see everyone get around and see dogs and get to pet everyone and meet everybody,” Pasko said.
Cawley said the day is just as fun for the dogs as it is for the people.
“It’s wonderful. You know, it’s nice to have Winnie socialize with other people and it’s nice for her to see all the enjoyment on the other students’ faces,” Cawley said.
For students and dogs alike, the afternoon on the quad turned into a paws-itively perfect break from the usual back-to-school routine.
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