Therapy Dogs Help Mont. Students With Test Stress

At Montana State University, final exams stress is going to the dogs.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/11pDoHV) Intermountain Therapy Animals is bringing dogs to campus this week and next to help students take a break from the stress of studying for and taking semester exams.

Jacqueline Frank is the Renne Library commons assistant who started the "Paws to de-Stress" program this semester. She says research shows that animals can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

Frank says over a two-hour period on Thursday afternoon, 261 people stopped by to meet Ellie, a 6-year-old golden retriever and Sophie, a 4-year-old Maltese.

Sophomore Rebecca Johnson from Ferndale, Wash., said: "This is the best idea ever."

Butte sophomore Kaitlyn Okrush agreed, noting she has an organic chemistry final on Monday.