CPO X CAPS PALS (Pet Away Life Stress)

Animal-assisted interactions are consistently shown to benefit human physical and emotional health - interacting with animals can decrease anxiety and feelings of self-reported loneliness, reduce stress hormones, and lower blood pressure for human friends. The PALS (Pet Away Life Stress) Program allows students to participate in animal-assisted interactions designed to promote coping, connection, and relaxation.

Weekly Events

The Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) work together to offer campus PALS activities, which provide stress reduction for SBU students and the opportunity to learn about new strategies for managing stress and the resources available on campus to support them. 

Weekly PALS events are scheduled throughout the semester.  

Co-Host An Event

Co-hosting PALS events involves helping us greet the volunteers at the parking location and walk them over to the event space, assisting us in managing the flow of people, assisting the volunteers and dogs (providing water for dogs, etc.), and helping to keep the resource tables stocked and orderly. Co-host organization volunteers get extra time with the dogs before and during the event.

Meet the PALS pups!

CPO staff coordinate PALS activities in collaboration with Pet Partners, a national organization which provides training and certification for therapy animals and their humans. Local volunteers in our community dedicate their time and energy to supporting our campus program - learn more about the PALS pups!