Today Matilda and I unexpectedly got our first official Pet Partners Therapy Dog assignment. Matilda and I had planned to go down to the Upland Library to pick up R.E.A.D. videos to give us some pointers on how to be a good Reading Education Assistance Dogs team. The woman who was supposed to be coming with her dog for the Saturday morning program had just had a root canal and didn't feel well enough to come. The children's librarian who is an officer in the local dog therapy group Paws to Heal and often does the READ program with her dog Amelia emailed me to see if Matilda and I could come.
Fourteen children read to Matilda and me. Some of the kids come every week to read to whichever dog team is there that week. Some children bring books they want to read, but there is also a selection of books out on a table from which to choose. Also on the table is a poster of the dog who is listening that week. As soon as I found out Matilda and I would be going to the library, I quickly put together a poster.
After the children read I let the children give Matilda a small treat, and I gave the children a sticker one of the librarians had quickly put together.
Here's Matilda in her new vest waiting for her first reader to arrive.
Fourteen children read to Matilda and me. Some of the kids come every week to read to whichever dog team is there that week. Some children bring books they want to read, but there is also a selection of books out on a table from which to choose. Also on the table is a poster of the dog who is listening that week. As soon as I found out Matilda and I would be going to the library, I quickly put together a poster.
After the children read I let the children give Matilda a small treat, and I gave the children a sticker one of the librarians had quickly put together.
Here's Matilda in her new vest waiting for her first reader to arrive.
Edited at 2008-04-06 04:18 am (UTC)