Cinder's Visit

Cinder and I just got back from a therapy dog visit to our neighbor's 2nd grade class. We first talked about how Cinder became a therapy dog and about how she takes care of me and my Mom. Then we talked about her visits to nursing homes and hospitals and her DSR work. I talked a little about how Cinder gets, praise, treats and agility as her "paycheck". I gave them all handouts with all this info and lots of pictures and websites to learn about therapy dogs, canine good citizen and shelties and Caring Paws and Canine Good Citizen brochures. Some of the children couldn't see her, so Cinder got to sit on the teachers desk. We had a question and answer period, followed by Cinder doing tricks. That was a big hit. She got lots of applause! Then the children came up to pet her in groups of 3 or 4. Cinder was in her glory! Three of the children made drawings for her - they will go right into Cinder's scrapbook. Thanks for those who I wrote to about this. I was very nervous (I HATE talking in front of people,even if they are little :>) and I could feel your support. It was hard to tear Cinder away from the kids and vice versa when it was time to leave. I am so proud of Cinder. She was amazing!

Composed by Karen

Did we I have a nice Therapy Visit story for you. I go to the school here in Vernon each week with Lady. Well last week and again this week.

A little boy who is there SPOKE. He doesn't talk he only makes noises and stuff, I am not sure of the exact name for his disability but I think he must have down syndrome or be Autistic. He can walk and play and stuff but he doesn't speak. Well up until last week he really showed little interest in Lady. But this week he was very responsive and happy to see her and we went walking in the hallway with him holding the leash.

Lady was forging ahead and I said to the boy Make a kissy noise and she will come back by you (now I said this not expecting a response as the child usually just strolls along and is sort of just bopping along. Well he goes ahead and makes the kissy noise and then pets Lady when she comes to him.) The teacher who was with us on the walk was shocked she said I couldn't believe he did that "Wow". Then I said to the boy can you tell her she's a good girl and the kid looks right at the dog and plain and clear as day says the kissy noise and when Lady came to him he said GOOD GIRL so clear and correct. The teacher stopped and looked at me like she had seen a ghost and she said to the boy can you say that again and he did!!

We stood and looked at each other amazed and so happy I was near crying when she told me in all the time she had known the child he had not uttered a understandable word !! Then we brought lady into a classroom and he looked at her and right in front of all the kids said Good Girl again!! Then we rushed back to the special class and he said it there for all the teachers!! (There is a teacher aid for each of about 6 kids in the multiple disabled classes) They were all like Wow!!!

This week the boy had his "Lady Time first" and he said it again!!! During speech last week the speech teacher was saying to him he was being a good boy and he said to her Good Girl!! Everyone is so excited to know he can talk, its just having something worth making the effort to speak about I guess in the child's mind!!!

So a little miracle in a little classroom for a little boy and a little stubby legged Welch corgi girl named Lady.Visiting this classroom makes me really happy. I miss weeks when we don't go due to holidays. Lady looks forward to the visits too and the kids love Lady. Today one little girl drew us a picture of Lady!! It's on my fridge. This visit makes me keep my life so in prospective, each time we leave the teachers and kids Thank Lady and Me, and it is them who I say should get the Thanks. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to help others and to see these little miracles, thanks for allowing me this experience and Thanks for helping me keep my life and every day things in prospective. A little miracle like a word spoken by an otherwise silent child can really make your day. I like all therapy work but working with these kids is definitely my favorite of visits so far.

Composed by Donna