Longwood University is giving students a furry break from the stress of exam week. For the second day, professors are planning to bring their dogs to campus to put smiles on the faces of test-weary students on the lawn in front of Lancaster Hall.

“It started off as a very impromptu event,” said organizer Dr. Jake Milne, assistant professor of sociology. “We wanted to do it for a while, so I put a post up on Facebook to see if we could drum up some interest, and it came together in just a few hours.”

Dubbed “Study Paws,” at least seven dogs romped with more than a hundred students for a few hours on Tuesday. Milne expects more playful pups and students to take a study break on Thursday.

Other schools around the country offer time with therapy dogs as a stress reliever, but Longwood is one of the only to make faculty pets available to students.

“It brings everybody together at a time when stress and emotions are high,” said Milne. “The students take a break from studying, and the faculty take a break from grading—and they love having students play with their puppies.”

Study Paws dogs will be available from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to come play with the puppies and relieve the pressure of exams with every tummy rub or ear scratch.