a Student’s best friend:
Stetson Pets, Mental Health, and COVID-19
Story by Emily Derrenbacker Photos by Jillian Semmel Layout by Cas Bradley
How the Pandemic Has Affected the Relationship Between Humans and Their Pets You’re half way through your 9:45 a.m. class on a Monday morning, and you still haven’t completely woken up. As you glance through the Zoom squares of everyone desperately trying to appear as if they are paying attention, you notice someone has sent a message in the chat which says: “aljblejflrbb.” Amidst your confusion, you see a cat walk across the screen, and it all makes sense.
For the most part, pets are our unproblematic best friends. There’s no drama, except when they interrupt your Zoom class, and they love you unconditionally, except when you come home smelling like another dog.
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issue 3
Animals can have a profound way of making the day seem a little brighter. Is there a scientific reason for this? What is it about animals that makes people feel better?