Being a college student can be stressful, especially around finals week. From studying to taking tests to giving presentations, students can become overwhelmed and risk burning out. Luckily, a local furry friend and his handler visit Shawnee around this difficult time to help students relax and put smiles on their faces.
Catherine Del Valle, a Lucasville resident, has been helping students at Shawnee for seven years with Yeti – a 9-year-old Great Pyrenees who works as a therapy dog. Therapy animals differ from service animals; therapy animals provide pet therapy, giving comfort to those who choose to visit with them. Service animals are trained to perform tasks for one person, usually to address a disability, and are not to be interacted with. When finals come around, Del Valle and Yeti come to Clark Memorial Library and invite students to spend time with them for a few hours. Yeti puts on his best outfits for these occasions and happily sits for pets from visiting students.
“Therapy dogs have many benefits,” Del Valle explained. “They can help people feel better by providing comfort and companionship. They can also help people cope with stress and emotional distress.”
She also noted that therapy dogs can improve health and mood. Spending time with Yeti can help students lower their blood pressure and feel happier.
Yeti and Del Valle visit Shawnee on two different occasions in the fall semester — the Weekend of Welcome and finals week. So, whether it’s the Weekend of Welcome and you’re overwhelmed as a first-year college student or it’s finals week and you’re drowning in work, look for the big white dog Yeti. Del Valle will happily let you pet and play with Yeti to destress. After all, who can be stressed while petting a dog?
