Puppy Therapy Takes a Bite out of Stress

St John Ambulance comes to Kwantlen students’ rescue with stress-relief program

On Aug. 12, St. John Ambulance and their spirited pack of puppies made their way to Kwantlen’s Surrey campus. The general purpose of this organization, as stated by program coordinator Gerry Redmond, was to provide stress relief for Kwantlen students by allowing them to interact with special “therapy trained” puppies.

St. John Ambulance itself is a prominent organization dedicated to teaching and practicing medical aid. According to the organization’s website, it began in the late 1800s and, by 1892, had branches “coast-to-coast” across Canada. Today, the employees of the St. John Ambulance are a “common and welcome sight during times of emergency across the country,” which proves how it has grown in supporting communities over the years.

On the topic of puppy therapy, stressed-out undergrads looking for their canine fix aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. St. John Ambulance also brings their puppy friends to places such as care homes, hospices and hospitals. The overall goal of puppy therapy, Redmond argues, is to bring forth a sense of “happiness, relief of stress, and companionship to troubled youths and adults alike.”

Redmond went on to claim that puppy therapy is “absolutely proven to work” and since “it lowers blood pressure and relieves stress,” she believes it will be beneficial for students who are finishing up their semesters with projects and exams.

According to some students who have experienced the program, interacting with St John Ambulance’s lively canines definitely put their exam-focused minds at ease. At the event, student participants and puppy therapists alike seemed soothed and ready to play—there wasn’t a stressed-out, exam-charred face in the house. Even some of the KPU staff got in on the fun, making fast friends with the canine crusaders. The program was so popular it even drew a few people from outside KPU who simply couldn’t miss out on the chance to frolic with the puppies.

Regarding the training that these animals go through, Redmond said that the puppies undergo various exercises and must match a certain criteria to be allowed into the program. “To even be accepted into the program, dogs must be two years of age, any breed, must not be of wrong diet and under full veterinary evaluation,” he says. In addition, Redmond stated that one of the most pivotal traits a St. John Ambulance puppy must have is simply a “people friendly” demeanour. Judging by the positive reactions participants had from their experiences with the puppies, it’s clear that this trait was possessed by all of the puppies.