Students were given an opportunity to de-stress before finals with puppies and good conversation on December1 in Naugle Hall.

Home@Ship, an event held every other week throughout the semester, held Paws-A-Palooza in collaboration with Kindly Canines. SU students were invited to come play with puppies, engage with one another and have the chance to relax before their finals. This was one of the most populated events of the semester, with roughly 60 students in attendance.

Michelle Olexa of the counseling center and Denise Yarwood, interim assistant dean of the school of academic progress and services, have been holding the Home@Ship events in hopes that students who are homesick or missing pets from home can come and talk with one another. They have also involved a dog in most of their events.

“People feel more comfortable to relax and chat around a dog,” Olexa said.

All of the five dogs at Paws-A-Palooza were from Kindly Canines, an organization from the Shippensburg/Chambersburg area. All the dogs they work with are therapy dogs and travel to nursing homes and the Franklin Learning Center in addition to SU.

“We come to the college 2-3 times a year,” said Joanna Minnich, co-chairperson of Kindly Canines.

“They have been great friends to Ship,” Olexa added.

Students spoke with the representatives from the organization about the dogs and what upcoming finals they were preparing for. Drinks and snacks were available to students and Naugle Hall’s resident assistants also helped with setting up the multi-purpose room for the event.

Students continued to take photos of the puppies, sharing laughs and relaxing. This was many of the students' second or third time at Paws-A-Palooza. Sophomore Cassie Price was eager to play with the puppies and take a break from studying.

“I love the dogs, thy make me happy,” she said. “[It] definitely helps with the stress.”

This was the last Home@Ship event for the semester but they plan to hold many more in the spring for students to connect and feel more at home. 

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