Published: November 07, 2009 06:29 pm      

Tail Waggin' program leads to success

DANVILLE — A therapy dog is born, not made.

“That is so true,” Chris Lucas said, responding to the quote from the Therapy Dogs International Web site. “Sophie was born to spread her love around.”

Sophie, a 4-year-old West Highland terrier, is a certified therapy dog who has a great job — listening to children read at Edison School.

She’s part of the Therapy Dogs International’s Tail Waggin’ Tutors program.

On a recent day, Sophie was greeted with smiles and hugs from two children involved in the program, Addie Kennedy and Ellia Innes, both fourth-graders.

“It’s fun to see her and she’s really nice,” Addie said, taking a break from reading “Dear Dumb Diary.” “I get to pet her while I read.”

Ellia, who was reading “The Zombie Zone,” said the dog is cute and nice, adding, “She just lays here and listens.”

Sophie does seem to be listening. Sometimes she gets so involved that her little paws end up on the pages.

“She’s truly interested in hearing their voices,” Lucas said.

Addie has a Yorkshire terrier, a Maltese mix and a Great Dane at home, and sometimes reads to them.

Ellia, however, said her Chihuahua-dachshund mix doesn’t care for books.

Lucas learned about the therapy dogs program when she took her two Westies — Sophie and Lucy — to obedience classes through Danville Area Community College, taught by Carolyn Daniel. Marilyn Campbell, therapy dog evaluator, remarked that Sophie would make a good therapy dog. (Lucy, 4, doesn’t have the disposition.)

Therapy Dogs International sent Lucas some information about its Tail Waggin’ Tutors program, which helps students build reading skills in a relaxed environment.

Sophie became certified, and now wears a red scarf that distinguishes her as a therapy dog.

Lucas then contacted Cindy Jett, librarian at Edison, who arranged for a trial six-week session with two students. The students, who meet at separate times with Lucas once a week, were chosen because they would benefit from the one-on-one attention.

The girls are good readers, but reading out loud to a non-judgmental dog gives them more confidence.

The six weeks have just ended, and Lucas hopes the reading program can continue after the holidays.

“You take a student, a dog and a book — and it equals success,” Lucas said.

Jett has been pleased with the program, too, saying, “Chris is a natural. She covers comprehension, vocabulary and fluency (of reading).”

Other children who come into the library love to greet Sophie, too.

Lucas wasn’t sure how the program would be received or how Sophie would behave at first. Therapy dogs are trained, evaluated and tested before they can begin a job.

Sophie has been remarkable, however, and hasn’t been distracted by other students.

She also goes to nursing homes, the Danville library and Center for Children’s Services.

Looking back, Lucas is glad she got involved in the Tail Waggin’ program.

“I feel we all have something to share, to give back,” she said. “I just happen to have a loving therapy dog that I feel has a special talent or gift that should be shared with others.”

The concept is so simple: A child learning to read benefits from having a non-judgmental listener. Now, wouldn’t it be great if more schools and classrooms made good use of dogs’ listening skills?

TO LEARN MORE

Visit the Therapy Dogs International Web site at http://www.tdi-dog.com, call (973) 252-9800 or write: Therapy Dogs International, 88 Bartley Road, Flanders, NJ 07836

If you would like to have your pet featured, contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.