LIBRARY DOGS.COM
~ Mary Ellen Chase
| All-Around READing Dogs | ||
| Maine ~ "Timber" & "Rissa" |
Timber and Rissa, on the library steps As if that wasn't enough to keep these girls out of trouble, they are also active in their local Dog Scout troup. They've been involved in various community activities promoting good dogs with community service such as visiting special education and special needs classes, educating children on avoiding dog bites, teaching people how to introduce a dog and a new baby, and participating in local clean-up days. Keep up with Timber and Rissa's actifvities by reading DawgDayz, Pam's blog.
They may look calm and patient In order to involve more children at school, Pam and the school staff developed a “doggie bag” program. They filled a tote bag with a “Baby Rissa (a chocolate Lab Beanie baby), a journal, and some age- and reading level-appropriate books. Each classroom from kindergarten to grade 4 had a bag, and all the children had a chance to take it home with them. They could take Baby Rissa places with them, write about their experiences, and read to Baby Rissa. Every 5 or 6 weeks, each class gathered in the library and read to the real Rissa. That’s when they had a chance to tell her what stories they’d read to Baby Rissa and about the adventures she’d been on with them. In an attempt to raise some money to buy books for children who read to the dogs and supplies for the teams, Pam and a friend make and sell Puppy Pails. Here are some examples.
In addition to these Puppy Pails, there are cards, tote bags, and other items being created. You can follow the efforts of BooksFurKids, see more pictures of the dogs and the items, and get ordering information by leaving a comment on the blog BooksFurKid and including your e-mail. Books about Labrador Retrievers include: |
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Timber and Rissa are Labrador Retrievers. Based on registered ownership, the “Lab” or "Labby" is the most popular breed in the world. They are also the most popular breed for assistance work in many countries, including the United States, and are widely used for police work. Certainly a handful if untrained, Labs are typically very food- and fun-oriented. They also respond well to praise and positive attention, which makes them very trainable. Both Timber and Rissa are fine examples of their breed, having excelled in the breed ring, obedience competition, and hunting trials. Both also had 3 litters of handsome puppies before retiring from their professional careers and being adopted by Pam.
Timber is a Black Lablrador. Pretty in pink, In her second career of pet therapy (registered with Therapy Dogs Inc.) and as a R.E.A.D.® team member, Timber is Pam's one-to-one reader dog. During the 2007-2008 school year, Timber went to Tremont Consolidated School weekly, where 10 children read to her. She is very mellow with the youngsters, often lying there with her paws crossed, "listening."
Rissa is a Chocolate Labrador. Like Timber, Rissa is registered with TDInc and is a R.E.A.D. team member. She has been a group reading dog at the Tremont school. She not only tolerates but is happiest when surrounded by youngsters. Seeing her interact with the kids makes one think she was raised with children, but she wasn't. Unlike Timber, if the kids want kisses, Rissa is eager to oblige. Both Timber and Rissa visit the local library one Wednesday afternoon a month. Pam created this READer flag that she hangs in her section of the village library on visiting days:
In addition to the school and library visits, they provide pet therapy at a local hospital and a retirement village two or three times a month. At the retirement village, they go to the assisted living floor and the Alzheimer's unit, as well as frequently visiting the exercise group that's in session at the same time as their visits. |
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