Parks and Barks is the dog meet you didn’t know you NEEDED.
RSPCA is partnering up with London Royal Parks for the campaign ‘Parks and Barks’. Multiple dog-meeting events will be held across the eight London Royal Parks every Saturday in May 2023.
How Did It Happen?
Since the Covid pandemic, Gen Zs in the UK are chronically online and stuck at home more than usual, often feeling anxious or stressed. 85% of university students reported increased smartphone usage during pandemic and physical stress symptoms, with these numbers worsening since the Covid outbreak, to the point that a public health advisory on the ‘youth mental health crisis’ had to be issued by US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy in 2021. This goes to show that Gen Z’s physical and mental health has been severely impacted in the last few years.
What Is The Solution?
A great antidote to this phenomenon is exploring nature, as studies show that being outside in nature can lower the stress hormone cortisol, improving both mental and physical health, and regulating mood disturbance. However, despite being one of the most active generations in saving green spaces, their connection with nature drops sharply from the age of 11 and doesn’t recover until they are 30.
What Are We Doing?
During the Parks and Barks campaign, large dog pens will be set up in these green spaces for ‘Doggy Destress’ events, allowing young people to sit and play with many of the trained RSPCA rescue dogs and relieve their stress. With the guidance of RSPCA volunteers, dog-walking sessions will also be held where teenagers can have strolls around the parks with dogs, improving the physical health of both humans and animals.
What Can You Do?
After attending our campaign events, if you wish to spend more time with our adorable dogs, consider becoming an RSPCA volunteer dog walker! We will provide you with basic training and teach you tips on walking dogs safely. We are always looking for more helping hands! Feel free to talk to any of our volunteers on site during the campaign events to learn more.
