Katelyn Moorman – Staff Writer
A small pug performs tricks in the middle of the room in exchange for dog treats while another dog sprawls out on the floor to be scratched.
Those were just two of the dogs at the Puppy Play Date Sept. 17 in UW’s Wellness Center on campus.
Puppy Play Dates allow students to come in and reduce their stress levels by petting trained dogs. Sometimes the dogs are different from event to event, and sometimes puppies are brought in. Several dogs were in attendance, including big, shaggy dogs and smaller dogs. Other dogs laid down and as students rubbed their bellies.
Students heard about the event in several different ways. Freshmen Carley Ebert and Luna Adelt heard about the event during their residence hall meetings. This was their first time at an event in the Wellness Center. Freshman Taylor Carabalol said she heard about the event from her brother, a former UW student.
Carabalol said she was excited, “I really like animals, and I miss my dogs back home.”
Freshman Kaleigh Johns said it was her first time at a Puppy Play Date event, too.
Johns said that she liked the event because it made her feel less stressed, but also said, “it does make me a little depressed because I miss my dog back home.”
Other students, like Junior Allison Kloepper, have attended multiple Puppy Play Date events in the past. Kloepper said she likes to pet the dogs because “it’s a good way to alleviate stress.”
She said she encourages other students to come to the Puppy Play Date events, though she does prefer the cat play dates.
“I like the cat ones better, but that’s just because I like cats more than dogs.”
Puppy Play Dates are scheduled throughout the semester and free for students to attend. The next play date is from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 16 in Half Acre 115. The next kitty cuddle time is from 4 to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 in Half Acre 115.
The kittens used during these sessions are borrowed from the Laramie Animal Welfare Society, which means that the cats at these events are adoptable.
