By Joslyn DelSignore / The Jambar
One of Youngstown State University’s most popular Welcome Week events was a success for the YSU community and its canine companions.
Campus Recreation partnered with New Lease on Life and AVI Fresh for Puppy Palooza at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 25.
New Lease on Life, a Youngstown-based animal shelter, brought 18 puppies to YSU’s campus for students, faculty and staff to play with during the event. All of the puppies were available for adoption.
Dina Fabry, associate director of programs at Campus Rec, said the event benefits the YSU community as well as the shelter and animals.
“Anyone on campus can come visit and play with the puppies for stress relief, but then it’s also really a win-win because the puppies get out of the shelter, and then also, they might potentially meet their future owners,” Fabry said.
After Puppy Palooza ended for the day, New Lease on Life offered open time where people could come visit the puppies without an appointment if they were interested in adopting.
Fabry said a lot of pets get adopted from New Lease on Life because of Puppy Palooza every year, and this fall was no different.
AVI collected donations for the shelter and brought the items to the event. They donated goods such as pee pads, cleaning supplies, blankets, cat litter and dog and cat food.
Fabry said Puppy Palooza will return during spring 2027 the week before finals week, and AVI will be a partner again with the goal to increase the donation amount.
Campus Rec is partnering with New Lease on Life again for puppy yoga from 4:30-5:30 p.m., Sept. 8. A certified yoga instructor will teach a class while the puppies run around and play. The 10 spots in the class are filled, but there is a waitlist for the event.
Fabry said she thinks Puppy Palooza is great for stress relief and can help students on campus who are away from home and miss their family pets.
“Animal therapy is a real thing, and when you get a chance to just stop and play with a puppy, you forget about everything else,” Fabry said.
New Lease on Life is at a temporary location on Mahoning Avenue as they search for a new location for the shelter.
Fabry said the shelter is always looking for volunteers. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can follow New Lease on Life on Facebook and message the shelter via Messenger.
“If we can find more volunteers for them for future things and just help the shelter in general, I think that would be amazing,” Fabry said.