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Phi Sigma Pi hosts Rent-A-Puppy to relieve students’ stress
Students petted away any final exams-related stress last week with a visit from animals of the Isabella County Animal Shelter.
Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity hosted their first Rent-A- Pet on Wednesday at the Wesley Center, 1400 S. Washington St. The 6-hour event drew in stressed out students looking to take a break from studying for their final exams.
Since petting animals is thought to relieve stress, Phi Sigma Pi Fundraising Chair Kimberly Simons helped coordinate the event for students to participate in during the tense times.
“We heard about this event last year from WMU’s Phi Sigma Pi chapter,” the Oak Park senior said. “They explained how successful it was there, so we wanted to try it here.”
She said the Humane Animal Treatment Society provided the seven dogs and two cats for the event. Participants paid $5 to play and walk a dog for 30 minutes, $4 for 20 minutes or $1 to play with a cat, she said.
HATS Executive Director Jill Irving said playing with animals does bring its benefits.
“It has been proven that petting animals helps lower heart rate and helps people focus on their tasks better,” Irving said.
After seeing an advertisement in the Towers, Grand Rapids freshman Rachel Weinrick came to play with the animals.
“I have four cats and a dog at home so I came here to have some fun,” she said. “It’s a nice distraction to relieve stress and not having to worry about anything.”
Although the students who came benefited from taking a break, the animal shelter profited.
“This is mainly a fundraiser for the fraternity, but we will be letting people take pictures for 50 cents, which will go to the animal shelter, as well as half of the cost for each cat,“ Simons said. “There is also donation cans for people to donate money to the animal shelter.”
Five dollars granted Dearborn junior Damian Pegg 30 minutes of play time with the shelter dogs.
“I came to help by donating money and to check out the dogs since I am going to adopt one in the summer,” Pegg said, ”because I will be living in a pet-friendly apartment.”
Although none of the animals were available for on the spot adoption at the event, Irving said students can stop by the Isabella County Animal Shelter if they are interested in adopting.
A dog costs $175 and cats are $80, she said. The cost includes alteration and licensing fees, and all up to date vaccinations.
For more information on adopting a pet, visit HATSweb.net.
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