On August 9th, the children’s
room of the Windham Public Library welcomed therapy dog, Maggie, an
eight-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, and her two Havanese friends, Rosie and Izzy.
This was their third visit to the library this summer.
To become a registered therapy dog with
the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a dog must take a Good Citizenship class and pass
certain tests designed to measure their manners and temperament. Such tests
include, but are not limited to, the dog’s acceptance of a stranger’s touch, the
ability to sit politely for petting, and the capacity to walk calmly in a crowd.
The physical and emotional benefits that a therapy dog can provide are many and
wide ranging.
According to the American Kennel Club,
“Science has shown us how beneficial therapy dogs can be. Visits from a therapy
dog can lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce patient anxiety, and
increase levels of endorphins and oxytocin.”
During this visit to the Windham Public
Library two things were very clear. First, it was obvious that Maggie was very
familiar with her role, and was more than ready to get down to business. As
soon as David placed her blanket down on the library floor, she quietly and
calmly laid down and awaited her first reader. At first, only a couple of
children were at the library, but it quickly filled up.
Secondly, it was immediately evident that
the presence of this trio provided a positive and uplifting reaction to each
and every child (and adult) who entered the children’s room. Some of the children
rushed right up to the dogs, while others stayed back waiting for the courage
to approach. Yet, by the end of the half hour, most, if not all, interacted, in
one way or another, with at least one of the three furry friends, and walked
(or toddled) away with bright and cheerful smiles.
“They bring a smile to your face. No
matter how their day is going, they bring a smile” said Liset Higgs.
Maggie and her friends will be returning
to the library in September. Contact the library for details on this event and
the many others offered by the Windham Public Library.
Pictures: Landon & Calleigh Laszczak
age 5
Aubrey Grindel age 3
Samantha Hutchinson age 10
These therapy dogs are blessings and I admire the owners who have unconditionally provided time and effort to share their dogs. The benefits of therapy dogs are well-documented and they provide love and affection for the physically and emotionally disabled. I love these dogs and would like my Golden Retriever train as a therapy dog. I've been reading a lot of posts regarding these dogs. Take a look at this wonderful site that features these dogs: http://dogsaholic.com/training/best-therapy-dogs.html
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