2008- PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

During 2008 Casey and I contined to visit Loudonville Christian School and Maplewood Manor Nursing Home.  In fact, it became so busy at the nursing home that we had to start going there 2 days a week.  When we were going 1 day a week, I found that I didn't have the time or the energy to see all the residents.  Maplewood Manor is a 3 story facility and although Casey was unaffected, I was spent after the first floor.  Expansion to 2 days per week allowed  us to visit the residents on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

In the late fall of 2007 I met with the superintendent of schools for the Ballston Spa Central Schools.  I had an "in" with a fellow rotarian who happened to be a member of the school board with many years tenure.  The superintendent was very enthusiastic, but my "in" told me to be patient.  A couple of months went by(we were now into 2008) and I had heard nothing.  I thought I was being patient, but again, my fellow rotarian, when queried, told me to be patient.  Finally, in April, we started work at the Malta Avenue Intermediate School.

In May we had our initial experience working with special education students.  We worked at the Chango Elementary School in the Shenendehowa School District.  Again, we were able to make use of an "in."  A former rotarian and retired principal at Chango, paved the way for us.  Work with special education classes has become a major part of our services.

Unfortunately, the school year was coming to a close.  However, the Ballston Spa School District ran a summer school program during the month of July called "SummerStars."  I guess that pet therapy, especially chidren reading to dogs, was a concept that was unfamiliar to many.  I say this based on our first visit to "Summer Stars."  Casey and I went to the gymnasium where we were supposed to meet a group of children who would read to Casey.  I can still recall the teacher inquiring as to whether I would lecture to the children and tell them all about Casey and therapy dogs?  I explained that actually I would do very little and the chidren would do most of the "work."  That is, they would read to Casey, brush her(I always bring 3 brushes with me), and pet her.











    




  

Casey at Maplewood Manor 2008