Last Thursday, Pearson Library invited eight therapy dogs from Love on a Leash to California Lutheran University to help students de-stress during midterm season.
Reference Librarian Erin Sommers said she organized events with therapy animals before the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed them in recent years, scheduling them around midterms and finals to help ease academic stress.
“I think animals in general provide a lot of de-stress for people,” Sommers said. “[A dog is] a cute creature that is so pure that it kind of gives people a moment to forget about everything else that’s going on and focus on petting them, talking to them and meeting their owners.”
Sommers said she learned about Love on a Leash, reached out to the local chapter president, and discovered the organization regularly holds similar events at college campuses and public libraries across the country. Thursday’s event was moved from the Native Plant Garden outside the library to indoors due to rain.
“[We’ve received] pretty positive feedback,” Sommers said. “Usually we can do more if it’s outside. When it’s inside, we don’t have much room. Overall, students are very excited about these events.”
First-year Dana Barbee attended the therapy dog event for the first time. Barbee said that she has been around dogs her entire life but does not get to interact with dogs as often while at school, making events like this one exciting.
“I think it’s really important for students to have a way to manage their stress, and dogs are a natural remedy,” Barbee said.
![“We heard [the students], and we’re going to try to offer something that still has their favorites, but also introduce something new at a point where people feel like they’re willing to pay,” Elizabeth Nepute said.](https://cluecho.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9502-1200x800.jpg)
