LIBRARY DOGS.COM
~ Sydney Jeanne Seward
| All-Around READing Dogs | ||
| Virginia ~ "Jazz" & "Willoughby" |
Hangin' out with kids -- Life is good! Sometimes people think Willoughby is a boy, but she’s not. A little sweetheart, she is named after Willoughby Lake in Vermont where her family used to live. Often called “Will” for short most of the time, she’s also been called “Beastie.” When she was a puppy and she'd do something naughty, she earned the nickname “Willo-Beastie,” and the Beastie part stuck. She comes to that as well as anything else! Willoughby knows a lot of tricks that she does for the children who read to her at Waverly Yowell Elementary School in Madison County and Rappahannock County Elementary School, both in Virginia. Willoughby is the envy of all her “Books & Barks Reading Partners” buddies now, because she has a special paw print stamp with her name on it. Children who read to Willoughby are given bookmarks and a picture of her, and the stamp makes them extra special.
Books about Golden Retrievers include: |
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Jazz and Willoughby are Golden Retrievers. “Goldens” are a very popular breed, noted for their kindly expression, affection for people, and tolerance of children. Golden Retrievers typically possess a personality that is eager, alert, and self-confident. They are natural clowns, which characterizes them as great therapy dogs to use in hospitals or retirement homes.
Jazz is listening to a youngster at Jazz, pictured here, was a therapy dog for 11 years, including more than four years as a R.E.A.D.® dog, listening eagerly to the stories children read to her. Sadly, Jazz crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2008.
Willoughby Trying to fill Jazz’s special paw prints is Willoughby, another golden retriever, three years old in this picture. Willoughby has been registered with Therapy Dogs Incorporated since 2006 and, like Jazz, has also been doing R.E.A.D. visits. Her favorite thing in the world is to hang out with children. In fact, she loves the family’s young grandson so much, it’s like she is happy to have her own kid! |
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