The buzz emanating from a thick lineup of students spilling from Cadboro Commons on Wednesday afternoon would have anyone assume a rock show was about to go down in the University of Victoria building.

Instead: puppies.

Twenty-one dogs, from Edie a pug-miniature pinscher, to Frost, a Kuvasz the size of a donkey, greeted a constant stream of students who showered the canine visitors with pats and giggles during Doggy Playtime.

For two hours students were invited to join the event as a means of relieving some stress in the week leading up to final exams.

B次元官网网址淲hen you live in res, you donB次元官网网址檛 have that access (to pets),B次元官网网址� said Boma Brown, a member of UVic Student Ambassadors, event co-organizers. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 one thing weB次元官网网址檝e been hearing: B次元官网网址業 miss my puppy so much.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Toni Garrett, a member of Pacific Animal Therapy Society (PATS) and former long-time co-op counsellor at UVic, was among the crowd with Lucy, her cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Garrett, no stranger to student stress, added Lucy to her family with the intent of designating her a therapy dog and has delighted in bringing her to all three of the Doggy Playtime de-stress events that have been held thus far.

B次元官网网址淪he was really excited when she came in,B次元官网网址� Garrett said, while a student knelt down to gush over her dog. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very gratifying work.B次元官网网址�

Dogs from Broken Promises Rescue, Citizen Canine and the general community also joined in the playtime.

The De-Stress Fest began this week with free hot chocolate, breakfasts at the Graduate StudentsB次元官网网址� Lounge and free chair massages.

It was set to wrap up today (Friday) after Santa rides his sleigh around campus.

Unwilling to reveal full details of the De-Stress Fest planned for the spring exam period, Brown confirmed it will likely involve some meditation, a little cotton candy and of course, more of the doggy playtime.

To learn about PATS, visit .

nnorth@saanichnews.com