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Pet dogs every week from now until the end of finals

April 10, 2018 By Emily Hamer

Sacajawea, a ten-year-old Newfoundland weighing more than 100 pounds, soaks up attention as she helps to alleviate stress for students during a Dogs On Call session held outside Helen C. White Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on May 13, 2013. The pet-therapy event involved dogs of all sizes and is intended to provide a study break for students as they head into final-exams week at the end of the spring semester. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison) Photo: Jeff Miller

With less than five weeks of school left, you’re probably a little stressed.

And you know what’s great for stress? Dogs. These wonderful creatures that we definitely don’t deserve have been shown to reduce stress hormones. Petting or playing with dogs can decrease the production of the stress hormone cortisol and increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin.

But if you don’t have a dog, you can’t exactly pet a dog to reduce your pre-finals stress. That’s why there’s Dogs On Call.

Dogs On Call is a Wisconsin organization whose goal is “improving human health through service and therapy animals.” They have events all around campus where you can come to pet their service dogs — for free.

Starting this week, there are student visiting events every week through finals on UW–Madison’s campus. If you’re diligent you can pet and play with dogs 14 times from now until the ends of school.

Here’s a list of all the Dogs On Call events happening now through May 9. Or check out the official Dogs On Call calendar!