From the wag of a dog’s tail to the power of a lion’s roar, animals bring color, balance, and meaning to our lives. October 4 marked National Animal Day, a time to love and appreciate our furry friends.
Animals play a crucial role in the lives of many people in various ways. They often help individuals maintain their mental and physical health, while also having a positive impact on our environment.
Beyond their daily impact, animals also give people an escape from reality. Spending time with pets or watching wildlife can bring peace and comfort, helping us to put aside stress and worries. Their unconditional love and calming nature make even the hardest days a little brighter.
Having service animals come to school during wellness week was a great de-stressor during midterms and finals for many students who were feeling under pressure.
Senior Gavin Lefebvre states, “The overwhelming work was getting to me during the day, petting the animals was a very therapeutic moment during a stressful time.”
Ava Deicicchi, a senior at The Academy, has a yellow lab as a certified psychiatric service animal. She explains that having the support of her dog, Georgia, has made drastic changes in her mental health and day-to-day life.
Deicicchi states, “Before having my service dog every day, tasks like going to school, attending appointments, or even just leaving the house often felt overwhelming and unmanageable. Now with Georgia’s constant support, I feel grounded and less isolated.”
Georgia is trained to recognize signs of anxiety and distress, interrupt panic attacks, and provide deep pressure therapy, which helps Deicicchi to stay calm and focused.
Here at Foran, seniors Caroline Geddes and Keelah Orellana started a new club, “All Paws On Deck,” to help provide support to sheltered animals.
Geddes states, “I foster dogs, and when I’m not fostering dogs, I still want to do things for animals. So Keelah and I decided to start a club to improve the animals’ quality of life in shelters.”
With all that animals do for us, it is important that we can show up for them with the care and respect they deserve.
