Friday, January 25, 2008

School dayz

Yesterday was a school day... It seems that some of the kids are improving again post Christmas vacation. Next week 4 kiddos will get their pawtographed books. The 2 librarians are working on creating "dog tags" for the group reading on 2/7.... I brought in some cookie cutter dog bone shapes BUT - didn't get much farther with them as work was steady busy and I was unable to get to the photocopier.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Therapy visit

We went to the assisted living and Alzheimer's unit today. Met some folks I knew that were visiting also, on the assisted living unit... They got to see Rissa "in action" and tag along for some visits... It was nice to have others see what a treasure Rissa is... Timber went to the other unit - the effort to take these girls is all worthwhile when I see one Alzheimer's resident just light up and try to speak and pat the dog each time... I forget about the terrible disease she lives with for those 5 minutes we sit with her... her infectious smile is heart warming...

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Pawtograph #2

Another of Timber's students completed his book mark and received his new book to take home... He chose one on dogs! I have a fabulous photo of him to add to Timber's scrapbook - (I can not place the photos on here or I would. It would require forms and parents approval etc...) We are preparing for Rissa's group reading day in February - we are going to make all the kids "dog tags"... I will make a template out of a dog cookie cutter and copy one of Rissa's tags on it... then the librarian will make them, laminate and use yarn for the necklace... we'll distribute them to the children on their reader dog day! We attended our monthly Dog Scout meeting this past Sunday. We had a nice talk on clicker training from Tracy (one of the leaders) - also planned for troop activities, fund raising... We started taping our Dog Scout of America testing video... Since there are no testers in Maine - we all have to video tape our application... Nice we have some tech people in the troop who have DVD cameras and lap tops and know how to use them!! We had our holiday pot luck and Yankee Swap too... Everyone liked their gift and NO ONE traded or "stole" ... Timber got a stuffed porcupine and continues to carry it around and present it to me frequently throughout the day... She even takes it in the car.... Good thing no one "stole" it from her... Tomorrow we go visiting at the senior center...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Pawtograph

At school, Thursday - Timber "pawtographed" her first book. One of our readers completed her 12 books read to Timber and received a new book to take home with her completed book mark! You couldn't really tell it was a ink paw print - BUT we outlined it and then it did... the fur between Timber's pads makes a distinguishing pawtograph almost impossible... and I'm not going to cut her fur to make it happen... The girl was thrilled, the librarian took pictures and then printed some copies for me and they are now in Timber's scrapbook! Next week another student will get his book!

Monday, January 7, 2008

Tally Ho

I had a chance to total up the volunteer hours for the year 2007 - 93 visits ( 130 hours)!! That is Rissa doing visits for the entire year and Timber for 6 months since she got certified in July! Won't bore anyone who might read this with the break down - BUT Rissa did make 68 visits for the year and will get her 1 year patch from TD Inc... I guess I get a lapel pin with a 50 on it. I haven't tallied up my mileage log yet for taxes... that's next! The total is all the pet therapy visits and all the R.E.A.D activities.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Happy New Year

We resumed our volunteer activities today. Timber went back to school and read with her kids. It was interesting to hear the difference when the kids don't read on their break. 2 of them that I mentioned before (seeing progress), today - read like they did in November, the improvement had disappeared.... The kids/staff gave Timber and Rissa Christmas gifts - a stuffed toy which Timber proudly carried out of school and continues to carry around the house.... I received a beautiful amaryllis bulb to plant/grow! We went this afternoon to the senior retirement home. I took Timber on one floor and Rissa on the other. Rissa was so happy to go visiting again! Timber is relaxing more on pet therapy visits - she now gets what she is to do... she wants to please and perform and waits for a command... she always looked to me for instruction... Now she is visiting on her own and knows what her "role" is... My memorable moment from today is seeing Rissa lean on a gentleman's leg and his wheelchair - she perfectly positioned herself so he could pet her easily... he petted her and talked to her... her eyes were at half mast and she was in doggie bliss...