Pet Therapy – CAAWLS Wellness Dogs

The Centre for Growth & Harmony and Learner Centre have partnered CAAWLS to bring wellness dogs to NorQuest to help us de-stress throughout the year!

There is a lot of research on the benefits of wellness animals/pet therapy on mental health. Spending time with animals can be great for calming our nervous systems, regulating our emotions, and lowering stress hormone levels. The volunteer dogs (and their humans) will be on-site to meet anyone who wants to come and meet a four-legged friend and reap some of these benefits.

Some safety info:

Have allergies, or a phobia of dogs? We will have plenty of signage outside the Learner Centre during the visits, and will ensure that the dogs remain in one place (just to the left as you enter the library). This way, folks can avoid interacting with them if needed. The space will also be cleaned and disinfected following each visit to help minimize potential allergens.

If you’re new to meeting and interacting with dogs, it’s perfectly normal to feel a little apprehensive or nervous. Here is a great short video that has some simple tips on how to approach and meet a dog safely. Take a look and feel free to let the volunteer know if you’re nervous or unsure of how to say hi – we’ll be on-hand to help.