Man’s best friend visited Caruth Hall on Thursday for a therapy dog event that left students smiling ear-to-ear. The dogs are part of the organization Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that visits facilities across the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Corrie Harris is a program manager for the Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity and organized this event on SMU’s campus.

“Just watching the students who work on projects around here and watching the stress levels escalate, it’s so great to see students take a moment to love on the dogs,” Harris said.

Freshman studio art major Demetria Hodges is one student who chose to destress with some puppy love.

“You know, after a super stressful week with a really hard Spanish test, it feels like the dogs are absorbing some of my stress,” Hodges said.

David Edwards is one of the generous volunteers who brought his 10-year-old golden retriever, Eddie, to meet with students. Eddie’s sweet demeanor has allowed him to work as a therapy dog for most his life, meeting with everyone from young school children to the elderly.

“I think it’s so rewarding to see the instant reactions of the people Eddie encounters,” Edwards said. “To see that joy, the laughter and excitement, and how much Eddie enjoys it is what makes this work so valuable.”

This is the third annual therapy dog event the Hunt institute has hosted, and its widespread appeal indicates that it won’t be the last.