By: Delaney Rosenthal

“The energy he gives off is just positive and comforts me”. These are the words of second-year, University of Oregon student, Rachel Hsu, referring to her support pet, Brutus. Brutus is a French bulldog who has lived with Rachel for the past year and a half. She struggles with anxiety and uses the routine she keeps with Brutus to help her to feel at ease and make her feel like she has a purpose. She takes him on daily walks, and Brutus follows right behind her wherever she goes. However, their favorite activity to do together is just sit and watch T.V. She has always lived with anxiety, but could not find a way to calm her nerves, until she made the decision to get Brutus.

Living with anxiety made Rachel constantly stressed and feel as if she had no solace. Going away to college was not going to help that. She was worried to have to move to a new place, make new friends, and do school, all at the same time. Until the summer before she left for school, she was at a friend’s, where she met his certified pet therapy dog. She remembers seeing the way the dog interacted with people and thinking “I want that”. The dog’s presence immediately calmed her anxiety. She spent the entire night side by side with the dog watching it interact with everyone and realizing that that is exactly what she needed. The way the dog would calmly walk into room, the way it would treat other people, it all amazed her. From this night on, Rachel decided that she needed a pet like that in her life.

Rachel’s decision to get Brutus was one based on her desire to feel more comfortable and confident. Rachel’s life since Brutus is much more calm and relaxed. Her good friend, Emma Sugar, says that “Brutus is like her child. She does everything for him”. The effects that Brutus has on Rachel will continue to help Rachel with anxiety. Rachel will be able to use Brutus to help keep stress levels down, which will help with her schooling and success at the University. She says, “The routine I keep with him, feeding him, walking him, playing with him, it really satisfies me and I love doing it.”