Â??stomp, Romp and Wag’ Event to Raise Awareness of Secondhand Smoke Effects on Dogs

Colorado State University will be hosting a day of events for the friends of students who rarely leave their sides – their dogs.

The sixth annual Stomp, Romp and Wag event will educate students about the effects of secondhand smoke on their pets. The event, sponsored by Hartshorn Health Service, also will educate and promote environmentally friendly practices for student pet owners and their pets.

The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at the Hartshorn Health Service north lawn. Obedience training demonstrations, educational booths and a dog spa will be featured. Local veterinarians also will be on hand to conduct dental and ear checks.

Dr. Patricia C. Schultheiss from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences will lead a discussion during the event. Stomp, Romp and Wag was created to target 18- to 24-year-olds about the detrimental effects of secondhand smoke. Last year, more than 1,000 people attended the event.

"Of all the age groups, college students are the only group continuing to increase in terms of tobacco use," said Gwen Sieving, health educator at Hartshorn Health Service. "This event is a creative spin on raising awareness about the negative effects of smoking."

In addition, this year’s event will showcase environmentally friendly practices such as limiting waste, using organic products and helpful tips for pet owners.

The annual Stomp, Romp and Wag event fulfills the partial requirement of the Colorado Collegiate Tobacco Prevention Initiative grant, which is managed by the Bacchus Network. The grant is funded through state tax revenue on tobacco products.

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