Dogs and boba, an unlikely combination, made their way to De Anza College’s quarterly De-Stress Week, the collaboration between DASG and the Active Minds club in the Hinson Campus Center conference rooms on Dec. 1.
A long line formed for the over 100 free bobas, attracting students who did not know about the event, which returns every quarter before finals week, which begins Dec. 8.
“We ran out of boba around an hour into the event,” DASG Chair of Events Joey Hua, 19, aerospace major, said. “I didn’t get any, I would rather have the public get it.”
Not up for grabs — and in much less supply — were about 10 of Paws-to-Share’s dogs, most of them rescues. The organization, which DASG worked with in past De-Stress weeks, let its dogs roam free in a barricaded enclosure, wagging their tails, waiting for equally excited students.
The event is intended for on-campus students to distract themselves for free, but the dogs on duty, such as Hula, a breeding dog saved from the Paradise fire in 2018, also reap reward.
“It’s a benefit for students as well as the pups, because they enjoy the attention” Johnelle La Londe, manager with Paws-to-Share, said as Hula barked at her for attention. . “We love sharing them with other people.”
Handlers, like Grace Adams, complete online training, including a temperament assessment for the dogs before visiting De Anza.
From senior centers and elementary schools, colleges and high schools are Adams’ favorite events with Paws-to-Share when it comes to bringing Trinity, her rescue from Mississippi, to provide relief with Paws-to-Share. ‘
“I love seeing how excited (Trinity) gets with the energy from the college and high school students.” Adams said, with Trinity popping her head between her legs. “One of the things I love about Paws-to-Share … they are more interested in the dogs enjoying what they are doing than they are training.”
Trinity was a popular pup and Sumeyye Koc’s favorite. Koc, 18, undeclared major, stopped by near the end of the event after seeing a dog in the Campus Center and asking what was going on.
“Whenever I call Trinity over, she comes over,” Koc said. “I didn’t even know there was boba.”
