2008 Woodie Awards
RSSBig dogs on campus
By Gwen Purdom
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Lifestyle
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After fumbling with the sticking doorknob, you skulk into your living room to find your best friend already sprawled on the couch. You plop down beside him and give him a pat on the shoulder, your very masculine way of letting him know how much you appreciate him being there for you. Judging by his wagging tail, you know he feels the same.
For today's typical college student, keeping up with classes, extracurriculars, future plans, romance and a social life is plenty to juggle. But many students on Lehigh's campus and nationwide are incorporating one more four-legged factor into their college careers.
Alex Milspaw, a grad student, grew up with pets and said she had trouble adjusting to the emotional and intellectual pressures of college alone.
"I really missed that companionship," Milspaw said.
After a trip to a nearby animal shelter, Milspaw welcomed Cyprus, a gray labradoodle, into her off-campus home and noticed an improvement right away. Boosted self-esteem, security, improved time management skills and a generally healthier lifestyle are just a few benefits Milspaw said she gains from having Cyprus around.
"He helps me remember to take care of myself," Milspaw said.
Benefits like these are just a few of the reasons the bond between humans and canines is so strong, according to experts. David Frei, national spokesman for the Delta Society, an organization that focuses on the mutual benefits of human canine interaction and co-host of the Westminster Kennel Club's annual televised dog show said the most important benefit dogs offer is a sense of connection and unconditional love, two qualities many stressed out college students say they are hungry for.
"We've known intuitively," Frei said, "that when you come home from a long day of work and you see a dog's tail wagging, it makes us feel good."
