Reading Coco’s report always brightens my day. I enjoy reading about Molly, as well, the new Bright Spot Therapy Dog at Melican Middle School. Two very special dogs, and their equally special owners, making a differences in the lives of many, as Coco states in the last sentence of her report. Without further rambling from me, Here’s Coco….
This week I went to school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There are so many students who want to spend time with me that Mom decided to bring me on Monday, as well as Wednesday and Friday, when I always go. Molly went to school with Julie on Tuesday and Thursday. As usual, we both had a terrific week.
On Monday, I visited with some students I had not met before. They loved spending time with me and talking to Mom. Many of them went for walks with me. I spent some time with a student I generally see each week. She is a sixth grader whose brother has cancer. Because of his health issues, he is absent from school a lot, and she misses some time, too. She enjoys time with me, talking to Mom and relaxing. I imagine she must have a lot on her mind.
Tuesday, Molly went to school with Julie and had another terrific day. She helped calm a student who was very anxious. She also helped a pair of boys form an unlikely bond, as they talked together, getting to know each other, while petting Molly and talking about their love of dogs. After school, while Julie helped with Badminton Club, Mom worked on some obedience with Molly. Mom says we can all use a tune-up from time to time…I would have to agree.
Wednesday was another rewarding day for me. I spent time with Mom and students, but I also spent quite a bit of time in the behavior specialist’s room, comforting students who were upset or anxious, and leaning on students whom needed some support while completing their work. I love being in the behavior specialist’s room – there are so many students and so much activity in there throughout the day. On Wednesday, I did have a little accident in that room – I was trying to get closer to a student who was working quietly, and I got myself turned around and twisted in the cord to a lamp. Before I knew it, the lamp fell on my head. There were a few screams from the girls when they saw the light bulb spark, and then they were all worried about me. I was fine. Mom says I am a bit of a klutz at times, and those are the hazards of being a working dog. I really was fine, but the extra attention from students and staff making sure I was OK was nice. After school, I rested at a girl’s feet as she read aloud to her teacher and me. She gets anxious, but I helped her feel better. Later, I went to Greenfield with Mom and spent some time with our friend in the nursing home. I also visited with other residents and some staff there. After that, I slept in the car while Mom helped with class at NB Productions.
Thursday, Molly took several walks with students even though it was a bit rainy. She calmed on boy who was very upset about his grandfather’s recent death, and she supported another student as she calmed herself through a quiet meditation exercise. It sounds like Molly is really helping the students at school.
Friday started out like any other day for me – Mom and I delivered classroom coverage slips to classrooms, I spent homeroom in the behavior specialist’s room, and Mom and I took walks with lots of different students. Later in the day, I went with Mom to a meeting at the superintendent’s office. As we walked into the lobby area, administrative assistants came from their cubicles and offices to see me and spend time with me. Mom and I visited with the six or seven women for about fifteen minutes before we went into our meeting. The superintendent and assistant superintendent were so happy to see me – probably happier to see me than Mom. I napped at Mom’s feet during the meeting, and then on our way out, the administrative assistants came out to see me again. One of them said, “We need an office dog here…” Another one said, “Thanks for letting us visit with Coco – what better way to make us happy than a dog?” I am not sure what all the fuss was about, but Mom was surprised at the response from the office staff there. Maybe we should schedule regular visits with that group.
On our way home, Mom and I stopped to see our friend at the nursing home in Auburn. He was so happy to see me. Mom and I visited with him for twenty minutes or so. On our way out of the facility, we stopped to see several others who were interested in visiting with me. I love the extra attention, but I always start to get a little ansty after thirty minutes or so there. As we always do, Mom and I left there and headed home feeling that we had made a difference this week in the lives of many. ~Coco