NEWBURGH – As the semester draws to a close and the pressure of final exams mounts, Mount Saint Mary College students found a friendly study break waiting for them in the Kaplan Family Library: a squad of wagging tails and wet noses.

Just before the campus heads home for Winter break, Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause brought therapy dogs to the college, offering students a much-needed chance to “paws,” breathe, and decompress.

For students juggling research papers, final projects, and exam prep, the event provided a quick but meaningful moment of joy.

And the science backs it up: research shows that spending even a few minutes interacting with animals can significantly lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and decrease cortisol levels.

The event was a collaborative effort to support s

See Full Page