Disadvantages Of Pet Therapy

When students leave their homes and enter college, they are exposed to new conditions. As we transition from high school to college, we don’t expect the difference between the two to have as much impact in our academic life. College exposes students to new opportunities and expands our knowledge base while also introducing us to unexpected adversities. We realize the high demands, such as self-discipline and motivation, needed to pass our classes. However, we also discover obstacles that hinder our ability to do so resulting in elevated levels of stress. Stress occurs when high demands or difficult situations arise and the body attempts to adjust the body back to a homeostatic balance (Kumar 102). Stress can be caused by psychological stressors, such as negative situations, or physiological stressors, such as a physical effect on the body. With excessive stress from school work, students can lose their motivation to study and hinder their …show more content…
According to Wells, she speculates that “stroking or petting an animal has repeatedly been shown to cause transient decreases in blood pressure and/or heart rate” (524). Furthermore, humans’ urge to pet animals is biological. We see dogs as an attachment figure that needs to be protected and feel reassured by their touch or touching them (Sable 95). Moreover, even the presence of an animal helps lower responses to conditions of stress. There was a study conducted where the presence of a dog or cat was found to lower heart rate and blood pressure while completing an action that was stressful or in stressful times (Wells 525). When students begin to feel overwhelmed by schoolwork, they will be able to visit the pet therapy program and be able to calm their nerves. The friendly companions can help lower the student 's heart rate and blood pressure and bring them to a state of relaxation and reduce anxiety before taking tests or