Sweet Emma Pickle
I had a pleasant morning meeting and evaluating a sweet Golden Retriever named Emma Pickle and her handler Marianne. These two make a perfect therapy dog team. They are in sync, Emma Pickle perfectly trained and looking to her handler for direction, Marianne communicating with Emma Pickle giving clear directives to engage with the patient being visited. Both the handler and the dog were perfectly relaxed and Marianne was engaging in conversation with the residents while Emma Pickle received petting and hugs.
Marianne is a retired teacher with expertise in reading and writing with children. When she told me this, my ears perked up… Would she be interested in our Bright Spot Reading Buddies Program? Absolutely, she replied. Emma Pickle and Marianne will be a perfect addition to our growing group of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs certified to participate in this special children’s reading program in area elementary school.
Once Marianne and Emma Pickle have received their Bright Spot Therapy Dogs membership kit, they are eligible to register for our 3-part training for Reading Buddies. This training is held in the school setting working with the children who participate in the program. Training is held on an individual basis – one therapy dog team trained at a time. Our newly trained Bright Spot Reading Buddy Teams have made it possible for us to expand our special reading program to a third school this year. We look forward to working with this wonderful new Therapy Dog Team. Congratulations, Miss Emma Pickle!