Therapy dogs brought in to help students destress before finals

College final exams can be a stressful time for students.
Brookdale Community College in Lincroft brought in some therapy dogs to help their students destress and take a study break. It is all part of the college’s stress-relief week held each semester before the tests.
“It gives students a little break from their studies,” says librarian Amy Clark. “It’s a program Brookdale has been doing for about five years.”
The trained therapy dogs usually visit nursing homes and hospitals. But they were at the Brookdale College library Thursday.
“They’re so cute. How could you not want to pet them? How could you be stressed looking at a dog?” says student Marysa Slovenz.
Student Justin Brana says that he helps take care of nine dogs back at home.
“If I’m thinking about a midterm, and I’m petting a dog, I don’t think about it anymore. It’s really relieving some stress,” he says.
Some of the dogs are trained by Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, a nonprofit organization based in Morris Plains.