Come to the Student Union to unwind after a 'ruff' day with doggy cuddles!
Welfare Statement
The Union is hosting a Dog Room as part of our Stressless event on Thursday 28th April to help students to relax with a canine companion! Dogs can have a huge impact on our mental health and wellbeing and the companionship that a pet offers is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress.
We understand that there may be concern for the wellbeing of the dogs themselves. The Union has gone to great lengths to ensure we have chosen a reputable company which puts the wellbeing of the dogs first. The dog room will be run by trained professionals with dogs that enjoy socialising with others and have been selected due to their calm and friendly nature.The dogs are classed as a working animal, this means they are entitled to breaks and quiet space away from the main area to relax and decompress. The dogs do not have to partake in the activity and will be monitored closely to see if any breaks are needed or if they need to be withdrawn from the situation.
Animals undergo a health check on a daily basis to ensure they are all in top condition and displaying no signs of illness, disease or distress. They also live with their handlers to reduce the risk of any animal stresses and strains. All dogs will take regularly scheduled breaks throughout the day to ensure their wellbeing.
Because of this, we will be ticketing the event to book a time slot to see the dogs.
Dog Room FAQ's
1. What does the dog room entail?
The dog room will be run by trained professionals with dogs that enjoy socialising with others and have been selected due to their calm and friendly nature. It will provide students with a chance to cuddle and play with these trained dogs.
The dogs do not have to partake in the activity and will be monitored closely to see if any breaks are needed or if they need to be withdrawn from the situation.
Animals undergo a health check on a daily basis to ensure they are all in top condition and displaying no signs of illness, disease or distress. They also live with their handlers to reduce the risk of any animal stresses and strains. All dogs will take regularly scheduled breaks throughout the day to ensure their wellbeing.
2. How do I participate?
If you wish to get involved, you are able to purchase a ticket for £3 to interact with the dogs through our eventbrite. Spaces are limited due to the welfare of the dogs, with each slot limited to a small number of students for 10 minutes.
3. Are there any rules I need to be aware of?
We will encourage all participants to test for COVID19 prior to the event. We ask that any students that are unwell not to participate to ensure the safety of dogs and others. We will also ensure that all participants sanitise their hands before and after entering the room to ensure it remains a safe environment.
All staff working the event will also undergo these safety measures.
4. What if I have a phobia/ allergies relating to dogs?
The event will take place in a secure room within the University on Thursday 28th April and Wednesday 4th May in Room 1 in the Student Union. We would advise that anyone who is worried about this event avoids this area at that time.
If you are concerned about this, please contact us on advice@upsu.net and we can discuss this further with you.
There will be a first aider on hand in case of any emergencies.