On Thursday, February 20, Well-Being at Work and the Kean Wellness Center hosted Love Your Pet Day in Down Hall from 12 to 1 p.m. The event was held in recognition of the national holiday, giving students the chance to unwind and enjoy our furry friends. 

The organization, Creature Comfort, brought two dogs, Story and Page, for students to enjoy. These Labrador Retrievers love the camera and have modeled for several companies like Walmart and Milk-Bone. 

Many students took this event as an opportunity to take a breather and get away from their everyday stressors. The dogs were filled with life and fun and made the attendees feel welcomed and relaxed. 

Nicole Klein, Managing Assistant Director – Employee Well-Being, shared the purpose of Love Your Pet Day. 

“We teamed up with the Kean Wellness Center to bring Love Your Pet Day to Life. This is an annual international holiday just to celebrate pets,” shared Klein.  

“We wanted to bring in a little bit of a wellness aspect to give faculty, staff, and students a chance to take a break, indulge in some pet therapy and pet love, and just celebrate the day.” 

Many people use pets, especially dogs, as a way to create a tranquil and comfortable environment. 

Vanessa Bojcev, an Interior Design major and senior from Old Bridge stated what she was looking forward to at the event. 

“I actually work in the next few minutes, but I saw that this is a nice opportunity to just relax and debrief before I go into work,” stated Bojcev. 

“Interior design and life in general are very stressful. So, I’m here to pet some pets and feel a little bit relaxed while I do so. 

Letian Jiang, a Communications major and junior from China, detailed his experience with dogs. 

“My parents also have a dog in our home. I just love dogs, so I wanted to join this activity remembering them. I just feel like the dogs are my friends. They comfort me and it’s like I have a friend with me.” 

The Kean Wellness Center and Well-Being at Work successfully hosted an event that allowed students, faculty, and staff to de-stress and take a necessary moment for themselves. The Love Your Pet Day event served as another example of how Kean supports a sense of community and well-being here on campus.