Puppy picnic aims to relieve student stress during midterms

The Troy Animal Rescue Project joined forces with Troy Student Government Associates (SGA) for a tail-wagging extravaganza on Wednesday, March 11. The Trojan Center patio was filled with belly rubs, puppy breath and stress-relieved students.  

The Puppy Picnic event was a part of SGA’s academic excellence week and aimed to tackle the stress of midterms.  

“I think the whole point of academic excellence week is really just to boost morale and kind of show them, obviously, this time’s hard, with it being midterm week and right before spring break,” said Avery Alderman, a sophomore hospitality tourism major from Dallas, Georgia. “I think it just breaks up the monotony of school, and having events like this really does change things up and gives you something to look forward to.  

“I have three tests tomorrow, so I’ve been really, really stressed, and being able to come down and sit with the dog for 20 to 30 minutes has been the best part of my day.” 

Students let their guard down to pet, play and take dogs on a walk around the quad.  

“Personally, I’m involved in a lot of activities and organizations, and I get stressed out a lot, especially this week before spring break,” said Zoe Johnson, afreshman business major from Katy, Texas. “Bringing puppies to campus so that I can come and pet them and enjoy it gives me that dopamine rush that I need and re-energizes me so that I can finish off the week strong. 

“I think it makes it more uplifting and gives college students a reason to try harder and not get the spring “gloomies” from all the stress that we have. I would absolutely love them to do this more. Just seeing the puppies, even if you’re busy, has brought my mood up, and they’re adorable.” 

The event also doubled as a way to make students aware of the dogs available at the Troy Animal Rescue Project.  

“My day is going great so far because there are dogs out here,” said Morgan Mitchell, a junior music industry major from Huntsville, Alabama. “This is definitely making my day better. 

“It’s midterm season, everybody’s stressed and my roommate is especially, so just spending five minutes with some dogs, especially young puppies with a lot of energy and looking really cute, allows you to just breathe a little bit and be like, life isn’t so bad. They’re dogs.

Honestly, I think that’s all that I need.” 

The Troy Animal Rescue project holds many adoption events throughout the year for Troy residents to find their dream pups. If adoption is not an option, the Doggy Day Out program allows students to take dogs for walks around campus and participate in other bonding activities.  

To find more information on the Troy Animal Rescue project, follow its Instagram @troyanimalrescueproject.  

For more information on student events around campus, follow SGA @troysga.