PAWS for People Community Newsletter: Late February, 2022 |
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PAWS Pet Therapy Provides Lasting Connections |
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We’ve always known that PAWS Pet Therapy is life-changing and has a lasting impact on the people who receive visits from our dedicated volunteers and their gentle & affectionate dogs, cats, and bunnies. PAWS’ focus on providing an individualized therapeutic experience with each person that we visit is what sets us apart and helps to make true connections that are remembered and cherished. We don’t always know the full impact of a visit, but recently we have had several reconnections with past participants in our PAWS for Reading program that remind us just how powerful our programs can be.
- Tawanda Harbison & Mr. Gibbs had a surprising visit at Nemours recently. When they entered the room of a 16-year-old girl recovering from surgery, the young girl excitedly shouted, “I read to that dog at Brader Elementary…Mr. Gibbs, right?” The girl was just 7 years old at Brader when she read to our PAWS dogs, and now 9 years later, she celebrated that memory and happily declared that, “our visit made her serotonin go through the roof!”
- While participating at a PAWS for Reading session at the Selbyville Library, Cindy Strouse & Mari were visited by an older boy who looked very familiar to them. The boy also recognized them from their reading visits to his second-grade class at Phillip Showell Elementary School 2 years prior! They had a great reunion and now Cindy & Mari are hoping to have the opportunity to meet his sister next year at Showell!”
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- At a recent event at Barnes & Noble, a college student stopped by to get a little pet therapy. He shared that as a child he was painfully shy and had great difficulty reading out loud in front of his class. He said that his mother had taken him to the Bear Library where he had practiced reading out loud with Sheila Larson & Coco Bella. With this new-found confidence, he was able to overcome his fear at school. He was so grateful that he wanted to stop by and make a donation to PAWS.
PAWS dogs, cats, and bunnies make connections that can last a lifetime!! If you know a student who would benefit from the PAWS for Reading program, check out our library schedule and sign them up for a session. It may be the greatest gift you can give them!
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Special Visit at Georgetown Elementary |
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Tina Maclary and Peanut had a very special visit with a young student at Georgetown Elementary School. The first-grade student is blind and had never met a dog – she had heard a dog bark but had never felt what a dog is like. The student came in for the visit, sat down on the carpet, and Tina guided her hands over Peanut, explaining as she went where she was touching. The child commented on how soft Peanut was, and how the fur on her back felt different from that on Peanut’s ears. She felt Peanut’s tail, nose, paws, and belly and exclaimed “I love her!” and bounced up and down. Once they were acquainted, Peanut’s new friend settled in with her braille book and read a story to Peanut. It was Peanut’s first experience with a braille reader and she was very impressed! |
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Do More 24 Day of Giving Returns in March |
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Do More 24 Delaware is a statewide 24-hour Day of Giving designed by the United Way to help Delaware nonprofits create new connections and raise funds. Donors can come from anywhere and funds will benefit PAWS programs throughout our service area.
The campaign will be held
March 3 & 4 from 6 PM - 6PM
The COVID pandemic has created tremendous demand for PAWS programs and support within our community. Please help us ensure that PAWS continues to be strong and ready to Do More. Visit the PAWS Do More 24 webpage to learn more and sign up for a reminder to donate when the campaign begins. Thank You!
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Pet Therapy in Action this Week |
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Robbie (Becky Cronin) gives some extra love and hugs at a recent DeStress session at Sean's House in Newark, DE. |
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Zuma (Barb Tury) is a patient and loving listener while kids read to him at St. Agnes School in West Chester, PA. |
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PAWS for Reading During Black History Month |
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Pandora (Paula Singer) is doing her part to help celebrate Black History month during the reading program at Radnor Middle School in Wayne, PA. Paula shared, “An 8th grade student was reading a book I brought called "Words with Wings," by Nikki Grimes, a young adult writer. The other wonderful book that we'll get to next is "Brown Girl Dreaming," written by Jacqueline Woodson about growing up in the 60's and 70's with the remnants of Jim Crow South. This book won the National Book Award as well as a host of other awards.”
Wonderful job, Pandora!!
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Find Ways to Play With Your Pet Indoors |
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We are excited to announce that Concord Pet Foods & Supplies, a PAWS Business Partner with extensive pet-related experience, will be providing informative articles in several of our e-Newsletters. They are starting off with the timely topic “Indoor Games with Pets.”
Playing with your pets is a great way to reinforce training, strengthen your bond, incorporate exercise into your daily routine, and enrich your pet’s life. But when you can’t play outside, what games can you and your pet enjoy indoors? There are many fun and engaging options for safe and exciting indoor games with pets.
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Did You Know?
The Dogs Have Gone to the Movies
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There are more and more movies and tv shows featuring dogs – I think it’s a reflection of our awakening awareness of how important pups are in our lives. Many, many tv shows and movies have dogs not only in them, but almost on equal footing with the human characters.
Furry stars are an unlikely occurrence in movies. However, no one can deny their presence and the amount of adorable-ness they bring to the silver screen. From being emotionally heartbreaking to super-adventurous, here are 10 great dog movies that can make your day. How many have you seen? (highonfilms.com)
MARLEY & ME (2008)
101 DALMATIANS (1996)
ISLE OF DOGS (2018)
EIGHT BELOW (2006)
HACHI: A DOG’S TALE (2009)
FINDING RIN TIN TIN (2007)
OLD YELLER (1957)
LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955)
LASSIE (2006)
BENJI (1974)
(and don’t forget about HOOCH!)
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Therapy pets help calm dental patients and may reduce anxiety in children and adults with dental phobias. Knowing she wanted to provide this extra comfort to her patients, a Cherry Hill, NJ dentist, Dr. Zahra Afsharzand, researched her options. She chose Leo, a hypoallergenic cockapoo with a special personality.
After completing PAWS orientation and training in January of 2021, Dr. Afsharzand began taking Leo to her dental practice office, through the PAWS in the Workplace Program. Now her patients are able to calm any jitters by visiting with Leo prior to their treatments.
Thank you, Dr. Zahra and Leo, for being a wonderful pet therapy team, providing this specific service to those in your community. Leo is bringing plenty of smiles, and Dr. Zahra is making those smiles all shine!
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Constance Bell-Jones joined PAWS for People in January of 2021, with her dashing Lab/Mastiff/Chesapeake Bay Retriever mix, Sami.
This Advanced team came to PAWS already understanding the importance and magic behind pet therapy, after watching her mom enjoy some furry love and companionship. Joining PAWS during the pandemic did not stop Constance and Sami from jumping in with community events right from the start. They are always a big hit at DeStress events, letting students and staff enjoy a warm hug with Sami, and putting smiles on faces. This delightful duo also enjoys visiting at Cooper University Hospital events as well as being a PAWS for Reading team.
Thank you, Constance and Sami, for leaving folks with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts.
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Thanks to our PAWS Partners |
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Donate While You Shop
The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases when selected by customers. Choose PAWS for People when you log in: smile.amazon.com
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