Hello, wanted to tell you Rose began a new program this summer referred to as READING WITH ROSIE.
Kids sign up to read to her at Kennedy Library in Muncie, IN.
Kids as young as 3 or as old as 5th grade read to her, gaining fluency in their reading abilities which impacts reading comprehension.
It started out as an hour a week but as people learn about the program we are picking up more kids.
Now she puts in an hour and a half each Thursday. When schools starts in August she will have to listen to the young readers on Saturday.
The local TDI evaluator is thrilled with the niche Rosie has in the community, and will find other Therapy dogs to round out the program.
I am happy to report that Rose is the first ever Reading Dog the library has had,
and happy that they took a chance with my offer to let Rosie find self-worth in her volunteerism!
Rose seems to enjoy it as much as the kids do. She now readily jumps into the car and trots into the library.
I usually pull out her drool bib so she doesn't mess up the floor with her slobber.
when it's over I reward her with a trip to Petsmart and a big drink of water when we arrive home.
Tomorrow Rosie is scheduled to visit the nursing home, so the age of folks she performs her pet therapy on will increase by about 70 years!


Karen, Muncie IN











Max has been certified for the following tests,
Training with kindness, AKC canine good citizen
and Therapy Dog International

Max was part of TDI…therapy dogs international…passed all his tests.
When we moved out here I decided the trek to the hospital was too far…about 65 miles each way,
so he never got out on the floor with the kids…..we were there a few times and just “practiced”…getting in and out of elevators,
and all that good stuff. He used to clear the halls when we would walk down the wings of the patient rooms J.
We did end up at a local nursing home where we visited the elderly….on one of the visits the staff was amazed to hear a stroke patient,
who hadn’t spoken Intelligible words, say “Nice Dog” while she was trying to maneuver an arm to pet him.
He would visit in the day room and then we would go room to room and ask the resident of that room if they would like him to come in to see them.
Most were very open to his visits and said they looked forward to seeing him every week; I know that is true ….
we would walk through the door a week later and those that could remember is name would say “Max is back”.
He was really good at what he did for as long as he did it.

Janet ,
Milford, New Jersey





Way back on the 9th of September 2001 you had a new litter of pups born to Chloe and Avalanche.
On Sept. 11th, with all the bad things that happened that day you helped me secure my new pup.
His name is Bart.

Well, with his birthday tomorrow I thought an update to you late was better than never. Bart is a healthy 7yr old...his girl Sadie
(a black lab - chow mix)keeps him young and busy.
Five years ago someone threw a ball of fur with a rope around her neck and hanged her over my fence.
I think the kids thought it would be fun to watch my big dog kill this little puppy.
But Bart had other plans.
He stood under her so she could stand on his back and barked up a storm
until I went out to see what was happening.
He save her life, and is now his constant companion.
She runs him all day and just watching them exhausts all of us.

When I brought Bart home he began his training as a service dog for my grandparents.
He learned to pull the wheel chair, work light switches, open the fridge and a few other tasks.
For a 180lb guy working with people in their late eighties he was very loving and gentle.

Both my grandparents have now passed and now Bart is enjoying his retirement.
He loves to go camping and has his own backpack. I just have to make sure we stay away from water.
He doesn't mind getting his toes wet but no further!
Once he fell in and sank to the bottom of the pond. Last weekend we to the desert to go rock climbing.
This he loves. He finds a cool place high up,
and does his Lion King impression and scares the life out of anyone who passes by.

Bart is an awesome dog. At christmas he fills his backpacks with candy,
dons his santa hat and sleigh bells and visits the children's hospitals and nursing homes.
For such a big dog he knows how to be calm and gentle around all.

So after 7 years I am finally sending you a couple of picts of my guy.
Thanks for helping me get such a great saint.
He is the best....even though he has a bit of Bart Simpson in him.

Here are a couple of picts...

Dee
Lynwood, CA



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