“I truly do not think there is enough time in my lifetime to fully express how much Kerrigan and Cathy Guenzel have made a difference in my classroom this year.  As I type this, I am preparing the room for our “Last Day with Kerrigan” celebration.  For our celebration, each student will be receiving a bound book of all their writing which was inspired by Kerrigan this year.  From imagining what Kerrigan would wear for Halloween, to writing about him taking a trip to see Santa on the Polar Express, to a Tall “Tail” that involved Kerrigan wrestling rattlesnakes and wild monkeys in Brazil—he inspired it all.  Cathy will be presented with a complete book of their work and pictures I took.  The book is about 3 inches thick.                                                                                                                                                                                         Not only did he and Cathy inspire my students writing and reading confidence, he also inspired their hearts.  One of my favorite quotes is from Aristotle:” Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”  No one embodies this quote more than Cathy and Kerrigan.  I have students in my class that suffer emotionally and/or mentally due to attention issues or an inner battle with depression and anxiety.  Kerrigan has eased their little minds and given them something to look forward to each week.  There were days where Cathy would turn to me with a smile and say, “I don’t think we’ve gotten much work done!” and I’d reply, “What you’re doing is more important than the worksheet they need to complete.”  She and Kerrigan successfully touched their hearts and minds each week with compassion, dedication and love.                                                                                                                                                   Thank you from the bottom of my heart for finding the perfect match for my special little group of children, and I look forward to continuing to work with this fantastic team.” 

(KC – Richboro Elementary, Council Rock)

“Your program is priceless! Each year I have seen my lower reluctant readers grow into confident readers. Priceless! Today, as we were sitting in a group in our reading center, a student stated, “Marley is a good listener, and Miss Tricia is a good teacher.” Priceless! I asked the group what their favorite thing about Marley was – all answered, “Reading to her!” Priceless! The program has also motivated my students to be excited about writing. During the year I take pictures of Marley and the students. Then the students use the pictures as prompts to write in their journals. It’s amazing how the non-writers become writers when they start writing about Marley. Priceless! My students LOVE to escort Marley, to pet Marley, to read to Marley, to write about Marley, and to read their written stories to Marley! Priceless! Thank you for allowing us to participate in your wonderful program.”  (DG – Goodnoe, Council Rock)

“There was one child in my class who was having difficulty being a flexible thinker and would often become frustrated. Throughout the year, I worked with this student to use strategies to help him become unstuck. On one occasion early in the school year, the student was “stuck,” and Laila had just entered the classroom. The student reluctantly went over to Laila to read to her. After having some time to chill out and pat Laila, he became more positive in his thinking and was able to enjoy the rest of the day. Throughout the school year, Laila became a positive influence for this student, and in turn, he made great gains in becoming a more flexible thinker and controlling his frustration independently.”  (LS – The Center School, Abington) 

“Michele Lecker and her therapy dog have been a wonderful asset to our school and students. On the days they visit, the entire mood of the school changes. It can be an emotionally rough day for some students which often affects the entire school. When Michele and Rory are present, there is a sense of peace and tranquility. It is truly amazing to see the transformation.  One of our students who was working on her graduation project changed her topic halfway through to do her project on therapy dogs. She did a wonderful presentation, completed a brochure, and was very enthusiastic about the project.”  (JH – The Sloan Alternative School, Council Rock)

“Our students have struggled with significant personal issues this year, including eating disorders, OCD, anxiety, depression, family illness, lack of academic motivation, etc. Mrs. Grossman and Blu’s visits helped brighten the day of students who otherwise have real difficulty connecting with others. There are several students who would light up with Blu’s presence. One student struggled with severe anxiety and depression this year, but Blu’s visit was the one time when this 17 year old would smile and become engaged with the class. It was amazing to witness the transformation.”            (SG/LR – Council Rock High School -South)

By Heather Wade, Holland Elementary, Council Rock School District

Therapy dog Jingles, owned and handled by Joyce McGettigan, went right to the head of the classroom when he entered.  We think he knew it was the best way to see all the kids at once. He pretty much pushed the teacher out of the way so he could take over teaching for the morning.

In Math the previous week, the students were learning about “longer/shorter” and putting things in order based on length.

We put the students and Jingles side by side and put them in order.

Math concepts can be lots of fun when the therapy dog helps teach!

One of the most frequent questions we get is from owners who want to know how they can get their dog certified to work as a registered therapy dog. 

We have learned over the years that the most important thing is a well socialized dog.  Proper socialization creates a relaxed, confident, well-adjusted, and happy canine, one that is comfortable in a wide variety of environments.  Socialization does not just happen; it takes a serious commitment on the part of the owner to expose the dog regularly to traveling in the car, interacting with people of all ages, other dogs, and to strange sights and sounds.

It is strongly recommended that socialization be done in 5 different venues per week. Some prime locations for socializing dogs are outdoor malls, flea markets, sporting events, walking in towns like Newtown or Doylestown, canine training classes, pet stores, Peddler’s Village, and at the entrance to high traffic places like Rita’s Water Ice and grocery stores. Use your imagination, but always be safe!

It is important to reinforce and emphasize good manners while socializing your dog.  The owner needs to separate dog socialization from working socialization.  While you are exposing your dog to different environments, remember to insist that your dog walk past another dog calmly and/or sit by your side while in the presence of another dog.  This will make it easier when you navigate this portion of the therapy dog test as well as when you work in group therapy visits.  Dogs should learn to walk on a loose leash and not be allowed to jump on people.  Even small dogs should not be allowed to jump on people.

Therapy dogs destined to work in schools should be comfortable and confident with children. Likewise, therapy dogs who will be working in nursing homes and hospitals should be gentle with the elderly and ill, and unafraid of medical equipment and assistive devices.

Some of the environments and situations where therapy dogs work includes schools, college campuses, hospitals, nursing homes, with war veterans, hospice, and crisis intervention.  Therapy dogs also visit public libraries, special needs camps, and community groups such as the Girl Scouts.

The Nor’wester Therapy Dogs organization requires our handlers to complete the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/training-testing/  as part of their dog’s preparation for therapy dog testing.

If you feel your dog is ready for the CGC test, some local testers are listed at https://norwestertherapydogs.org/get-involved/therapy-dog-certification/  for your convenience. In addition, CGC testing is often available at AKC sanctioned dog shows and through local dog training organizations. There is no age restriction for CGC testing. 

Many dog training organizations offer therapy dog classes prior to testing. These classes are often helpful for novice dog handlers because they offer guidance in preparation for testing and for working as a therapy dog. However, classes are not required. If an experienced owner feels his/her dog is ready, arrangements can be made with a therapy dog organization or evaluator to have the dog tested.  It is important to understand that the test is as much an evaluation of the handler as it is the dog, and the pair are certified as a team.

On some therapy dog organization websites, you can review the test used by that respective organization. Dogs are required to be at least one year old before they are eligible to be tested.  If an adult dog is adopted, then that dog may not test until it has been owned by the handler for a minimum of 6 months. 

The two main therapy dog organizations which most of our handlers test with are:

Alliance of Therapy Dogs:  https://www.therapydogs.com/

Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs: http://www.golden-dogs.org/

Starting socialization and training is easier with puppies, but many owners adopt adult dogs who are sometimes suitable candidates for therapy dog work.  Because it is likely the past socialization/training history of the dog is unknown, it is recommended that owners diligently socialize and train the same as they would with a puppy.  Enrolling in obedience classes is always a great way to get a good feel for the temperament of an adopted adult canine.  

It is extremely rewarding to prepare your dog for therapy dog testing. The time spent socializing and training strengthens your bond and enhances your effectiveness as a therapy dog team.  The Nor’wester Therapy Dogs organization is always available to answer any questions you may have.

By Carol VanSant

One therapy dog job that almost everyone is familiar with is to help people manage grief. It doesn’t matter whether it is a large tragedy or an individual personal loss, therapy dogs help alleviate the pain. If you have done any reading about the benefits of therapy dogs, you may know that petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and naturally releases endorphins to help you feel better. This benefit is especially helpful when dealing with grief. As a handler volunteering for Nor’wester Therapy Dogs, you don’t expect to encounter grief during your visits to your assigned classroom. It does happen, though.

My therapy dog, Violet, had the privilege of helping Sydney, one of her fourth grade students, through the very personal loss of her family’s dog. One of the ways Violet helped was by having surgery herself. Sydney’s expression of her feelings in the get well card she wrote to Violet illustrates the importance of a therapy dog’s presence during this time in her life. I’d like to share the get well card Sydney wrote with you. I’d also like to thank Sydney for helping me feel better!

Carla Foy grew up in Bethlehem, PA. Her father was an airline pilot, and her mother owns a used/rare bookstore called The Old Library Bookshop. She has always loved children and teaching, and she was encouraged by her grandmother to pursue education as a career. Before coming to Council Rock, she taught in a Catholic school in Princeton, NJ, and a year in Trenton, NJ. She has been at Richboro Elementary for 26 years. 

Carla attended Rider University for both her undergrad and graduate degrees. When Carla was studying for her Master’s in Elementary Counseling, she had a vision of the impact that therapy animals could have in school classrooms.  This led her to doing her thesis on this topic. In her research she discovered massive documentation that proved how valuable it was for children to interact with animals, especially when paired with learning. Now that Carla is a host teacher for one of our Nor’wester therapy dogs, she knows that having an animal in her classroom is beyond “cute and fun.” It is profoundly powerful.                                                                         

Carla shared a story with us about a student she had in her classroom one year when Wendi Huttner and her dog Wes were visiting:                             

“I once had a little boy in my class named *S* who had a multitude of learning and behavior problems.  He had an autistic brother at home who seemed to get all the attention that *S* so desperately needed. *S* lacked social skills, and so most of his classmates shunned him.  He had no friends. As a teacher I tried all the interventions I thought would be most beneficial. Nothing seemed to help.  When our therapy dog, Wes, started his visits, I began to notice a change in *S*.  He worked harder to read more fluently, especially on Mondays when he knew Wes was coming.  With this change, the students started to accept *S*, and he began making a few friends.  At the end of the school year *S* wrote a note to Wes. 

“Dear Wes, thank you for coming to our class.  When I read to you, you were the only one who didn’t laugh at me when I got stuck on a word.  I read better now because of you.  Please don’t leave us. 

Your Friend, *S*.” 

Carla recalls, “As a teacher who was an observer of all this, I cry every time I read *S’s* letter.  He got the attention and love he wasn’t getting at home, and it changed him in a million ways.” 

IDEAS FROM CARLA:

1. I keep a basket of dog books from which students can choose for independent reading. I have “book talked” these books, or we’ve read them together as a class. These books are in great demand. Sometimes a student will request that a book be included in the basket. If the book is appropriate and centered around dogs, I will honor the request. 
2. We have a blog on my class webpage. When students are reading independently, they may come across a book they would like to read to our therapy dog.  The blog is a place for them to share the title and the reason why they want to share it with our dog.
3. I also use golden tokens I got from the Crayola Factory with students who have behavior issues.  They can earn golden tokens for extra time with our therapy dog. 
4. A terrific website for teachers, parents, and kids is James Patterson’s readkiddoread.com . . . dedicated to making kids readers for life!

Note: The Nor’wester Therapy Dogs organization encourages sharing among our host teachers of ideas and lessons which have been successfully implemented to maximize the impact of therapy dogs in the classroom. 

In addition to being a creative host teacher, Carla has also jumped in as a volunteer when the organization does community events.  She has supported us in several fund-raising dog walks and more recently has served as scheduling coordinator for our booth at Tyler Park’s Crafts in the Meadow venue.  The Nor’wester Therapy Dogs organization is truly fortunate to have Carla as part of our team. Carla lives in Ivyland with her three children: Valerie, John, and Kelly. Chip, their 6-year-old chocolate Labrador Retriever, is a much loved member of their family.  “I can’t imagine a home without a dog,” says Carla . . . and we know she feels the same way about her classroom.  

We often encounter students who have anxiety and fear when around dogs. It seems that our therapy dogs are then thrust into the role of helping students overcome these issues.  The gentle and calm demeanor of a therapy dog is the first step in working with these students.  It’s heartwarming to see our therapy dogs help students gain confidence while being around dogs.

Sean was in second grade when Hannah started classroom therapy dog visits.  When the teacher took September photos of each student reading to the dog, Sean wouldn’t come within twelve feet of Hannah. 

None of us forced the issue and allowed Sean to dictate his comfort level.  As the weeks passed and Sean observed his classmates snuggling with Hannah, he started to inch closer and closer when it was his turn to read.  His teacher and the handler silently applauded the day Sean sat next to Hannah and petted her.  Soon he looked forward to the dog visits as much as his classmates.  At the end of the year when the teacher took photos of each student with Hannah, Sean was snuggling beside her with his arm around her body. 

Six years later, Sean and Hannah were reunited in middle school. There was a joyful reunion when Hannah walked in for her first visit.  Needless to say, the handler had tears in her eyes.

Then there was Chelsey, a 5^th grader. At the end of the year she volunteered to write about her experience with Hannah in the school’s student newsletter, The 5 O’Clock Times.

REFLECTION ON HANNAH, OUR THERAPY DOG

Hannah is our reading dog.  At the beginning of the year I was petrified of all kinds of dogs and wouldn’t even go near one.  When Hannah started visits, I didn’t think I would read to her or pet her, and just be scared the whole year.  When it was my turn to sit with Hannah, I decided to be super brave and pet her.  I was glad that one of the first dogs I was petting was a therapy dog because they are sweet and extra calm.  After I petted her for my first turn, I thought it was a miracle I didn’t freak out and that I was extremely relaxed.   The next time it was my turn to sit with Hannah, I took another big step towards eliminating my dog fears and started to read to her and pet her at the same time!  I kept doing this every time I sat with Hannah.   Now it is the end of the year, and I am not scared of Hannah at all.  Also, my fear of dogs has dropped a little bit.  When I pass dogs on the street or anywhere, I now don’t jump and hide behind anyone.  I also went to a friend’s house, and her dog was so calm I didn’t need my friend to hold the dog by the collar while I was there.  If you have a horrible fear of dogs, and want to overcome your fear, I suggest starting with a therapy dog!

by Chelsey S.

SOME GREAT DOG-THEMED BOOKS FOR STUDENTS

It’s summertime and a great time to catch up on pleasure reading. Our therapy dogs recommended some wonderful dog stories and encourage you to visit your local public library!

The Nor’wester therapy dogs will be visiting the Free Library at Northampton Township in Richboro on Thursdays now through August 8 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Stop by and read to the dogs!

PICTURE BOOKS:

Bad Dog Marley by John Grogran (about loving a dog even though he’s trouble)

Bark George by Jules Fifer

Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts (addresses adoption)

Buddy Unchained by Daisy Bix (addresses rescuing a dog from a neglectful owner)

Clifford, The Big Red Dog by Normal Bridwell (a fun and popular series)

Dog Breath by Dave Pilkey (a dog with bad breath ends up saving the day!)

Help Me Mr. Mutt: Answers for Dogs with People Problems by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

It’s Hard to Read a Map with a Beagle on Your Lap by Marilyn Singer (poetry)

Martha Walks the Dog by Susan Meddaugh (Martha solves a bully problem with kindness)

Murphy and Kate by Ellen Howard (addresses losing a dog to death)

Rugby and Rosie by Nan Parson Rossiter (a family raises a seeing-eye dog)

Some Dog by Mary Cassanova (a dog worries that he’s not important anymore)

Superdog: Heart of a Hero by Caralyn and Mark Buehner (a dog is a hero despite what others say)

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant (a lonely old woman refuses to get close to anyone she could outlive — then a dog comes along and works his way into her heart)

CHAPTER BOOKS:

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynold Naylor

Sounder by William Howard Armstrong (sad ending)

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

The Captain’s Dog by Roland Smith (Lewis and Clark through the eyes of a dog)

The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be by Farley Mowat

Tornado by Betsy Byars

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (sad ending)

Nor’wester Therapy Dogs: Canine Partners in Education has been nominated for Most Happening Charity in the Bucks County 2017 “Happening List” contest. This contest is offered to determine the MOST HAPPENING people, places, businesses, and events in the region. And Nor’wester Readers is certainly at the forefront as a “MOST HAPPENING” organization!

Therapy dogs are magical and facilitate amazing transformations, motivation, and progress among students with educational, physical, social, and emotional challenges. Currently comprised of about 50 dedicated volunteers and 45 therapy dogs, our program makes a big difference in the lives of teachers and students in public and private schools as well as in public libraries and in community outreach like senior centers, 4H, and scouting.

As a 501c3 non-profit organization incorporated in Pennsylvania, we operate as a publically supported charity relying entirely on donations. Please take the time to vote for us as the MOST HAPPENING organization in the charity category.

Debbie Glessner has also been nominated for The Happening List’s Most Happening Volunteer! Debbie was voted Most Happening Volunteer in 2016.

“I am nominating Debbie because she is the most selfless and unselfish person I know – characteristics that are, of course, indispensable for this endeavor. Every week she lends countless hours to our efforts, constantly putting Nor’Wester organizataion’s needs ahead of her own. With heart and dogged determination, she is the glue holding this organization together.” – Wendi Huttner

Most Happening Volunteer	Most Happening Organization Charity Category

 

The Bucks Happening List is the most happening people’s choice contest in Bucks County. Nor’Wester Readers’ own Deborah Glessner was nominated for Most Happening Volunteer. On Friday, March 25th, results for this category were announced, and…

Drum roll please…

Debbie won!

A note from Debbie:

What an honor to be voted the winner in the VOLUNTEER category of 2016 Bucks Happening List. Thank you to Wendi Huttner, my NWR partner, who nominated me. I am thrilled to be in the company of many other wonderful volunteers, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who supports us and Nor’wester Readers Therapy Dogs – Canine Partners in Education.

Thank you to everyone who voted.

– Deborah Glessner: Co-founder and Co-director of NWR

Nor’wester Readers Therapy Dogs: Canine Partners in Education has been nominated for Most Happening Charity in the Bucks County 2016 “Happening List” contest. This contest is offered to determine the MOST HAPPENING people, places, businesses, and events in the region. And Nor’wester Readers is certainly at the forefront as a “MOST HAPPENING” organization!

Therapy dogs are magical and facilitate amazing transformations, motivation, and progress among students with educational, physical, social, and emotional challenges. Currently comprised of about 50 dedicated volunteers and 39 therapy dogs, our program makes a big difference in the lives of teachers and students in public and private schools as well as in public libraries and in community outreach like senior centers, 4H, and scouting.

As a 501c3 non-profit organization incorporated in Pennsylvania, we operate as a publically supported charity relying entirely on donations. Please take the time to vote for us as the MOST HAPPENING organization in the charity category.

Debbie Glessner has also been nominated for The Happening List’s Most Happening Volunteer!

“I am nominating Debbie because she is the most selfless and unselfish person I know – characteristics that are, of course, indispensable for this endeavor. Every week she lends countless hours to our efforts, constantly putting Nor’Wester Readers’ needs ahead of her own. With heart and dogged determination, she is the glue holding this organization together.” – Wendi Huttner

Most Happening Volunteer	Most Happening Organization Charity Category