Students and faculty weren’t the only ones to walk through campus this week.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, the College Canines set up shop in the lobby of Lawrence Hall. With them, they brought a variety of dogs.

“My heart is so happy…I’m crying tears of joy,” said Tiffany Walker, a freshman stage management major.

Walker has two cats and a bird of her own, but has always wanted a dog. She also revealed that she misses her pets.

Walker is one of many students who came to the event in part because they miss their pets back at home.

“I miss my dog…she’s my best friend. But petting those dogs today brought back some comfort from home,” said Brittany Arp, a freshman political science major who also attended the event.

This very sentiment is a part of the organization’s mission. The organization trains dogs to become therapy animals. Part of their training is being able to handle crowds and heavy social exposure.

In training therapy dogs, the organization makes efforts to ensure that college students have an opportunity to have a piece of home on campus as well as providing general relief. They are well experienced with this effort, seeing that they have already paid visits to neighboring students, such as those at Pitt and Duquesne.

For those who missed it, the organization – and their canine companions – will soon return to campus. Volunteer Katie Rodella said the dogs will visit campus the first Thursday and middle Wednesday of every month.