Bruce and Holly are Delta Society Pet Partners that belong to Paws 4 Love, a chapter of Huntsville Pets Helping People. Bruce is a "Texas size" Border Collie with the personality of a Golden Retriever. He is a happy, frolicky dog that is a joy for children to read to and a welcome visitor in nursing homes.

Bruce is trying to be patient
while waiting for a treat .

The Border Collie is a medium sized bundle of energy that tyically craves attention, exercise, and a job to do. One of the most trainable breeds, they not only can handle any type of herd but also can serve law enforcement in narcotics and bomb detection, search and rescue, and police work. They often excel in obedience, agility, and Frisbee trials, not to mention performing tricks.

Bruce and Holly are owned by Jo Ann Russell, who has written articles for local news media under the pen name of "Bruce the Border Collie." To help introduce children to the R.E.A.D.® program, Bruce the Border Collie wrote Will You Read to Me? describing how he gets ready to come to school and what happens when he and a child find their special place to read. The pages are beautifully illustrated by Janice Bodenhamer, and the words are brushstroked to give them the appearance of a child's writing. The purpose of the book is to have a very happy, loveable R.E.A.D. dog answer the questions a child might ask after being selected to participate in the school R.E.A.D. program.

Members of Paws 4 Love and Huntsville Pets Helping People have used this book and are excited by the acceptance of children and teachers. One youngster, searching for his special book to be paw-toe-graphed, sat back and asked, "Where is that Bruce book? That's the one I really want!"

Bbooks with Border Collies in them include:

Angus and Sadie, by Cynthia Voigt
Ribbon the Border Collie: From Herder to Healer, by Lyn Bezek