I'm going to go out on a limb and say no, no there isn't.
Case in point. Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia has implemented a new "de-stressing" program for their students. What is it, you ask? Meditation hours in the quad? Rainforest music played through the loud speakers? Free massages to all undergrads?
While all of these ideas would be great ones (especially the free massages), that's not the path they've chosen to go down. No, they weren't satisfied to be merely remembered as great when they could be immortalised forever as the most awesome university in the history of awesome universities! But what is this oh so wonderful idea, you ask?
A room full of puppies!
No, seriously, a room full of puppies! How great is that! Dalhousie Uni, you rock!
Apparently the uni decided that the best way to make sure their students don't get so stressed out of their gourds that they go postal on the general population is to provide a room for them to go and interact with therapy dogs. Sounds like a good plan to me! I know I find it impossible to maintain the appropriate levels of homicidal mania needed for a good massacre when I'm cuddling a puppy.
But seriously, those of us with pets already know just how relaxing it can be to interact with something cute and fluffy, and I can only imagine that relaxation increases when you're not responsible for feeding them, grooming them, or handling their poop. When you think about it, it makes you wonder how no one else has cottoned onto this idea before!
I want my work to offer this! On a bad day when the numbers won't add up right, and the clients are being crabby, and I've had to listen to that one guy tell me all about his rash again, I want to know I can go out the back and there is an oasis of canine love waiting for me.
Ah, one can dream, I suppose.
So, Dalhousie Uni, in honour of you're rocking so hard that Stone Henge is saying "What the fuck..." I'd like to award you Kellie's Official Seal Of Awesomeness!
You earned it!
That is much better than their first stress-reduction idea, which was a room full of sting rays.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. It didn't work out very well for Steve Irwin.
DeleteToo soon?
I live in Canada, I have a room full of puppies, Doesn't everybody have a room full of puppies? :)
ReplyDeleteYou, my fine upstanding Canadian friend, are a model citizen who should be admired and emulated! Puppies for everyone!
DeleteYup, that's how we roll in Canada.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why you're superior to everyone else! Better than the Australian alternative of a room full of kangaroos. Have you ever tried to cuddle a kangaroo? They're awfully sinewy!
DeleteWe considered moving to Canada a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, the timing wasn't right. If husband had seen this beforehand though, we would be there right now!
ReplyDeleteAh, perhaps it's best he didn't know about it. As delightful as a room full of puppies is, it's probably not the best thing to base an international move on.
DeleteI thought about moving to Canada in 1968, then my draft board listed me as 1Y.
ReplyDeleteRoom full of puppies? I get relaxed just thinking about it.
Better for your blood pressure than a steady diet of oatmeal and veggies!
DeleteThat is an awesome thing! While we live in the US, my daughter and her college roommates make a weekly trip to the humane society just to play with the dogs! They love it and it keeps them calm AND happy!! Great job, Canada!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish there were places like that in Australia. Unfortunately, the animal rescue places discourage you from playing with the animals unless you'e planning on adopting them.
DeleteExcellent idea! Short of free beer or a "Get Out of Jail Free" card that would definitely be a de-stresser. Good for ya Canada! :)
ReplyDeleteS
Well it's no free beer and blow jobs, but it's still a damned good idea ;D
DeleteOooo, a roomful of puppies! Oh wait, I have that right here.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I suppose it's more of a novelty to some than to others.
DeleteThey need puppy rooms in every prison, seniors home, hospital and hospice and just wherever people need to know they are loved. Puppies are great healers of the soul.
ReplyDeleteIt would definitely make the world a better place!
DeleteKellie! excellent! have you heard of the Utah college gal that is renting out a puppy by the hour? this story reminded me of it. just google it re: 'Utah College Co-ed starts business Renting out Puppies' or something similar. She was on local news here over the weekend and I saw her on fb last night. She is making a ton of money and most of the puppies get adopted. She started it to reduce stress and it has taken off. cool. my puppies is nearly 18 months old and is becoming a responsible little cute doggie now days. fun post!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of that, but what a great idea!
DeleteMy stress level goes down just imagining being in a room with puppies. Of course cleaning up after those puppies might produce some stress.
ReplyDeleteSay, I received the cute books you sent from your Blogiversary give-a-way. Mrs. C. and I are enjoying them thoroughly. Thank you so much.
I'm glad you're enjoying them! They're a real trip, aren't they!
DeleteWhat a GREAT idea!!
ReplyDeleteThey definitely deserve for SOMEONE to give them an award for it, so I decided to step up to the plate :D
Deleteoh my god...I LOVE DOGS!! Go Canada (Robin Scherbatsky style)!! :D
ReplyDeleteThey've definitely got their awesome points as far as I'm concerned!
DeleteAs half French-Canadian I am just so darn proud of that University. Puppy power!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd so you should be! Go Canada!!!
DeleteThat is the best! I love it! Once in a great while, some coworker will bring in their new puppy, or their dog, and it is the most blissful few minutes when I have some puppy therapy. I'm always lobbying for an office dog (mine of course!) but they act like it's a silly idea!
ReplyDeleteWe used to have someone who brought their dog in occasionally and we'd all fawn over him ... at least until someone found a little surprise he left out in the bookshelves. After that he wasn't allowed back in the office :(
DeleteI'm now picturing a bed of puppies that you could sleep on while feeling the soft puppy fur underneath you, relaxing you into a...zzzzzzzzzz.
ReplyDeleteWhat with all the wriggling that puppies do, it'd be like sleeping on one of those roller beds!
DeleteThe only issue, you have to watch out for the guy who strolls into the puppy room with a jar full of peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteEww! Eww eww eww!
DeleteAnd also, hilarious!
IM. SO. MOVING. TO. CANADA.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Valerie
It certainly seems like a great place to live. Beautiful scenery, polite natives, and all the puppies you can snuggle.
DeleteOne of the psychologists in an office on the same floor as mine brings her dog to work. Just seeing him bound up the stairs makes me smile. I wish we had an office dog, it would be lovely.
ReplyDeleteAnd she's a psychologist, so she must know that it's beneficial to people's mental health!
DeleteKellie! hi! my daughter bought a darling turquoise and white leopard top lately. it is darling, really. at the moment i only have one scarf leopard but i would love more. yay! leopard collection commence!
ReplyDeleteOk, even as an American, I will admit that Canada has us beat on this. It's generally a groovy country. I would love to play with puppies for an hour. But I will say the best maple syrup comes from Vermont. Suck it, Canada. Love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'll have to take your word for it on the maple syrup. We're pretty far away from you guys, so we tend to just get the maple flavoured stuff.
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea. I wish my son's school had a "room full of puppies" elective. I guess it's followed by the "pick up the pups' poop" elective.
ReplyDeleteGenius!!! Why is this not happening everywhere in the world?!
ReplyDeleteI love their approach! Who can resist a room full of puppies! One of the advantages to working at home like I do is to get to see and participate in the antics of Koda; I think it should be mandatory every person gets to take their dog to work with them!
ReplyDeletebetty