No, that’s not a new ploy by a law school desperate to increase its applicant yield. It’s a program at George Mason Law to decrease stress around finals by bringing in shelter puppies for play and cuddling sessions with students. Pet therapy is not a new idea; my understanding is that it’s been used in a variety of contexts to raise people’s spirits. As the linked article notes, the idea has been picked up by a number of law schools. As a dog lover I give this idea my hearty approval. It’s no magic solution to all the stresses law students face, but it can’t hurt, notwithstanding some commentators’ snarky responses to the GMU program.
So, for those of you who aren’t at GMU or another school with a similar program, let me do the next best thing and introduce you to a couple of lab-pit litter-mate beauties who raise my spirits every evening. They’re a little older than in this picture. But heck, everyone posts a younger picture of themselves online.
With this post I’m outta here. Thanks, as always, to Dan and the entire Prawfs community (including the commentors). Good luck on exams — writing, taking and grading!
Posted by Bill Araiza on December 7, 2011 at 07:00 AM
Comments
In two years, the 1Ls can walk these puppies for supplementary income.
Posted by: John | Dec 7, 2011 2:44:52 PM
Harvard Med also has a dog they bring around to the library twice a week for visits.
Posted by: Margaret Ryznar | Dec 7, 2011 1:11:14 PM
The Yale Law Library also keeps a “stress-relief dog” for lending to its students — or so my daughter (now a Yale undergrad) informs me.
Posted by: Rick Hills | Dec 7, 2011 11:25:22 AM
My shoes, the antenna on my (old) cell phone … I have a lot of reminders of their puppy days. Thanks for the kind words, Matt.
Posted by: Bill Araiza | Dec 7, 2011 7:48:19 AM
Those dogs look like they are up to something. I think you’d better check your shoes, Bill! (Thanks for the posts this last month- I enjoyed them. Maybe you should bring the dogs to class?
Posted by: Matt | Dec 7, 2011 7:19:16 AM