Bruins find calm and connection with therapy dogs during finals

With finals underway at UCLA, a small crowd of students gathered in the lobby of the Charles E. Young Research Library on Wednesday for a different kind of break: therapy dogs.

As Opal, a Labrador retriever, lay on her back for belly rubs from students, a teddy bear doodle named Gus, who arrived wearing a flamingo headband, drew an audible "awww" from Bruins waiting to meet him as he trotted in to report for work.

Among the students were three friends who returned to the line multiple times: first, to meet Opal, then again when Gus arrived, and a third time after Gus donned a new costume, from the flamingo headband to a rainbow-colored unicorn horn and ears. They wanted to make sure to get photos of each costume change.

The event, a collaboration between UCLA Library'sStressbusters program and UCLA Health's People-Animal Connection, or PAC, provided students with a much-needed opportunity to decompress during one of the busiest times of the academic year. In addition to finals, many students are also preparing for graduation and commencement ceremonies. The therapy dog visits, led by PAC's volunteer handlers and their canine companions, offered Bruins a calming pause to relax and reset amidst their academic demands.

Chancellor Julio Frenk, who was inaugurated as UCLA's seventh chancellor on June 5, made a surprise visit to the event, chatting with students about their majors, upcoming finals and career plans. He and his partner, Felicia Marie Knaul, joined Bruins gathered around Opal and shared stories about their own pets, including two dogs, a cat and a 6-year-old Lusitano horse named Poseidon. Knaul, who previously shared with UCLA Magazine the family's journey of adopting a special-needs rescue dog, told the students she often takes the horse for walks.

When the conversation circled back to finals and grades, one student half-jokingly asked Frenk: "You can talk to my professor for me, right?"

Joseph Finkelstein, a fourth-year student who was getting prepared to take his history of mathematics exam, said he stumbled upon the event while heading to the library for a last-minute study jam. The opportunity to spend time with Opal before his final may have been more beneficial than a study session. "I have a husky at home," he said. "It's such a nice interaction to have before the final."

Daisy Rincon, a second-year statistics major, echoed the sentiment. "Everyone is always like, 'Are you going to go see the therapy dogs?'" she said. Although she had finished her finals, Rincon still felt lingering stress from the quarter - "the zone," she called it.

Her friend, Geidy Nuñez, a first-year education major, appreciated the break as well. "Having this is a really good break. It takes your mind off [finals], and it's just nice to have this available to us," she said, noting that petting the dogs reminded her of home.

"The dogs are really helpful to help me relax and be calm," said Luka-Dani Huipio, a fourth-year English major who was finishing a final paper. "I'm just excited that they're here."

The Stressbusters program offers a range of wellness activities across campus throughout the year, including origami, mindful meditation, chair massages, and free coffee and fruit. The partnership with PAC has made the therapy dog visits one of the most popular parts of the program.

Since its founding in 1994, PAC has grown into one of the nation's most comprehensive animal-assisted therapy programs. More than 60 volunteer teams of handlers and therapy dogs regularly visit patients across UCLA's medical centers, with PAC teams making over 900 patient visits each month. Last year, PAC celebrated its 30th anniversary.

For Opal's handler, Roxanne Neal, who retired after serving as assistant dean of new student academic programs, volunteering with PAC feels like a continuation of her longtime UCLA career. Neal joined the program while working on campus. Her first therapy dog, Clara, was eventually succeeded by Opal, who now brings comfort to both hospital patients and students.

"Opal's been shedding more than usual today," Neal said as she watched her dog roll over for another round of belly rubs. "I think she's absorbing the students' finals stress."

As Gus and Opal cycled through their costumes, one of the most crowd-pleasing outfits was a headband adorned with dozens of tiny silk flower buds, paired with matching sunglasses. Knaul smiled and told the crowd, "I would wear that" - a lighthearted moment of calm and connection during finals week.