Stressed over finals at USM Gulf Coast? Pet a dog

The answer to a stressful finals week? Dogs, of course.

The University of Southern Mississippi will have therapy dogs on its Gulf Park campus Monday and Tuesday for students -- or faculty and staff -- who could use a break.

The registered therapy dogs are from Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi, which also provides dogs to visit hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.

The university brought dogs to campus last year, officials said, and saw an enthusiastic response.

Interacting with animals has been shown to increase oxytocin levels, which reduces anxiety and lowers blood pressure. High stress levels also can impair memory, so the dogs may actually help students study more effectively, the studies said.

The dogs will be in the Fleming Education Center rotunda area Monday and Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Stressed over finals at USM Gulf Coast? Pet a dog ."