"Can I Read To Your Dog?"

Well, it is obvious I have some catching up to do so will get started now.....

We visited an Elementary School on 23 February as part of a reward night for math and science students. We had seven teams (each team being made up of a pet and his/her handler) and managed to see a total of about 200 children in two hours. The children were clambering for second turns when the school insisted on closing for the night.

MFM and I interacted with more than 35 children, which meant the readings were shortened so everyone would have an opportunity to join in. I was amazed at the different reading levels, but the children all gave it their best. Each was rewarded with a stick-on tag announcing which dog s/he had read with, a bookmark to encourage reading at home, and a "business card" to tell all about the dog. Now, we need to go back to the printer!

This school night was a rousing success and other schools are reaching out to us now. More teams are graduating in the coming months so we are going to be a strong force!

A Day at the Library



My first outing as a R.E.A.D. dog was to the Public Library. We did not have too many visitors but that will surely change as the children learn we are there. It is such fun to see the children come in. They run over and give nme hugs and pet me...a LOT! Then they choose a book and read to me. I have the best job in the world!

Delta Pet Partner Team

Yippeeee!! My letter finally came and we are now a registered pet partner team!
Pet Partner Teams can visit people just to make them happy. For instance - an older person living in an assisted living facility might have had a pet all her / his life but now it is not allowed. I can visit and bring some joy for a little bit of time.

We get a badge and everything. There is still more to do though.

 We needed this letter so we can register as a R.E.A.D. team. That means I can go to the library and the schools and have the children read to me. I am hoping to make the first big extravaganza on November 12th at the library. Just have to see if MFM is back from her trip because she has to take me. Also, there are more papers and things to fill out to be in that program.

A hassle? Well, a little bit but I am hoping it will be worth it.
I will let you know.....meanwhile, I am off to the dog park after we deliver a meal to a recuperating friend.

R.E.A.D.

Well, I don't know about you but I have been hot all summer!

It has been 100 degrees plus almost all summer and I have this fur coat attached to me. MFM had all that hair cut off a couple of months ago, but it grew back quickly. I like to stay indoors , where it is cool, most of the time. Sometimes I surprise her when I balk at going inside and just lie down on the grass and refuse to move. Then she tethers me outside for a little while and I watch the birds and squirrels running free.

It is hard not to be able to explore the country side on my own, but I have to admit I love the food and cuddles.

Now, it appears that I will be working for my keep. Well, not really "working." but "volunteering." We have completed all the training and almost all the paperwork, now we just have to wait on our credentials and badges so we can get to "work."

We plan to volunteer to visit people whose spirits need a lift and they are not able to get out much. We also plan to volunteer with the R.E.A.D. prorgam in the schools. I practiced with Kyah while we were in  in St Louis and I practiced with Abs when she visited me last weekend.

It was a really interesting book at first.

Abs showed me the pictures and I helped her keep her place.

I don't know who enjoyed it more.

It really was an interesting story and there were some nice pictures, but I was tired and there were no pictures of dogs....<Yawwwwnnn>

Burrrrr - It's Summer

Not only am I a "Scoundrel" with a capital "S", I am a burr-ridden Scoundrel!

How was I supposed to know that a delightful, free-living roll in dead grass would mean I was doomed to carry my weight in grass burrs? MFM has brushed and combed and picked at me until I rebelled, but there are still thousands of burrs caught in my hair.

My hair is not the kind that sheds and pulls out easily. My hair is one of the poodle traits I have and one that MFM wanted so I wouldn't be shedding all over. The down side is that I have to have it trimmed or it just keeps growing and I get fluffier and fluffier. That is a good thing in the winter but in the summer it is very hot and, as I have just experienced, it catches everything that passes by.

Woe is me. I an destined to be brushed frequently and de-burred constantly until they are all gone. I have an appointment at the groomer on Wednesday so maybe they can just cut all those burrs out.

I am off for a nap.....

Delta Test

I passed!!
It was so much fun! All those people wandering around, petting me, making noise, and I got a treat at the end.
Yippee! I can visit people who just  need to smile.....as soon as I can get all the paperwork done.

Comings and Goings

I am back home and catching up on my sleep!

We went to St Louis (STL) when Charlie and David A. stayed with us. I really enjoyed the attention and even more when we got to STL and met up with Kyah, Liam, and their dog, Fredie. They first named the dog Freddy and renamed him when "he" turned out to be a "she." We played chase, fetch, etc,. and I learned how to go down the big slide at the park.

MFM and I only spent three days when we returned home before we headed off to Colorado Springs to visit the military branch of the family and their dog, Sammy. I don't know why everyone was nervous about my invading Sammy's territory, he remembered me from last time and we spent the entire visit wrestling. MFM can't figure out why we prefer each other's food to our own, but I keep that tidbit a secret. Our entire stay was like the daily time I spend at the dog park!
MFM and Korin went for a hot air balloon ride that ended our daily walks for a while when the balloon had a HARD crash landing. MFM was on crutches for a few days and still has to check back in with the doctor.

We headed back home in time to greet our visitors from STL. Lots of children to play with and things to do. They were careful to keep their toys out of reach after they discovered I could macerate them in short order. I got to practice being a "Read Dog" when Kyah invited me to sit with her while she "read" a book to me. I think I kinda' like that,

Everyone has gone home now and MFM and I have been alone since yesterday. We are resting up for the next group scheduled to visit in a couple of weeks. Today is the big day - my "Delta Test" - to see if I get to register to visit nursing homes, shut-ins, and reading programs in the schools. I think I am ready.....