For animal lovers, there can be no better way to de-stress and enjoy a few minutes of downtime than hanging out with some furry friends. That's what Dean Paul Wahlbeck in the George Washington University Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) had in mind when he broached the idea to organize Take a Paws, an event held Wednesday afternoon in the District House basement designed to provide CCAS students the opportunity to take a break from their studies and enjoy some puppy love.
“It’s no secret that animal-assisted therapy can provide comfort and help people cope with stressful situations,” Wahlbeck said. “Our students are dealing with so much these days that go well beyond the classroom. From the pandemic to global upheaval, a little R&R seems more important than ever.”
The two-hour event proved to be so popular that registration had to be closed after 300 students signed up to attend. People Animals Love, a D.C.-based nonprofit, supplied the therapy dogs and CCAS hopes to connect with them again to host a similar event to accommodate additional students.
Below are photos from the event:
