Members In The News & Events

Tails of Joy's Story Tails program featured in The Valley Press

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Saturday, January 9, 2010 9:59 PM EST
The Bristol Press (bristolpress.com), Serving Bristol, CT

BRISTOL — Seven-year-old Victoria Holcomb of Forestville seemed to have captured the rapt attention of Charlie, a Boston Terrier’s, attention Saturday as she read from “Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan.” Then James, a springer spaniel trotted into the reading room of Monross Library and Charlie’s attention wavered. For a moment he seemed torn between the story of Henry and the new canine. But Victoria’s dulcet vocal tones soon brought the dog back to his primary mission.

“Since we have a new dog in the house — Cup Cake, a pit bull — it’s good practice for her to read to a dog,” said Victoria’s mom, Jackie.

By the time, Victoria had finished reading, more than 15 kids with parents or guardians had crowded into the library reading area.

Mike Orazzi | Staff
Crystal Cleveland,7, reads to James as his owner Wendy Hirtle looks on at the Manross Library in Forestville during an event with the Tails of Joy Reading Education Assistance Dogs on Saturday.

Mike Grossi of Plainville, a representative of the local Tails of Joy, the organization hosting the Read-to-Dogs event, explained that Tails of Joy is part of the Delta Society. The society is a national therapy group dedicated to improving health and comfort through interaction with service and therapy animals. He is also a member of Reading Education Assistance Dogs, an all-volunteer organization, that bring dogs into schools, libraries and nursing homes as part of a relational therapy.

R.E.A.D. is a program to improve elementary schoolchildren’s reading skills with help from Pet Partner Therapy teams. The teams have completed a training program for dogs and their human companions.

According to Grossi, the breed of the dog doesn’t matter. Saturday at the library he was assisted by James the spaniel; Charlie the terrier; and Ollie and Oola, Bernese mountain dogs. Grossi said the dogs he uses are laid back. They need to be patient for at least an hour and a half. If kids are afraid of dogs, this experience can help them overcome their fear.

The event is free, no cost to a parent or guardian. Librarians hear about it and place the item in newspapers.

“The secret to improving a child’s reading is a quiet spot, a listening dog and a good book,” Grossi said. Most dogs are companions of their volunteers. Grossi said schoolchildren who have read to a R.E.A.D. dog once a week for six months have shown a remarkable increase in their reading ability, ranging from two to six levels.

Charlie’s companion, who asked not to be identified, said she had been looking for a way to get involved in the community.

“I’m passionate about working with dogs,” she said. “I have a lot of free time and wanted to give back to the community.”

Five-year-old Dylan and his mother, Sharee Dionne visit the library every other day. A kindergarten student at Bristol’s Green Hills, Dylan said he enjoyed reading, also the “Make-and-Take” dog craft, a hand puppet made from toilet tissue rolls.

Grossi believes the program is successful because there’s no parent or teacher pointing a finger at the child. Sometimes the dog will lay his face in the kid’s lap or book. Then, too, dogs are not judgmental.

“You can usually tell the outcome from how the kid acts,” Grossi said. “Most of them leave with a smile on their face. It’s a three-way thing — the parent or guardian, the child, and of course, the dog — all three have to be happy.”

Tails of Joy and WAGS featured in UCPEC's November newsletter

Health & Wellness Festival
Connecticut Convention Center

October 17 & 18, 2009

Town of Coventry Senior Health Fair
October 10, 2009

Dog Days at Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea
August 29 & 30, 2009

R.E.A.D. teams from Tails of Joy joined the fun at the Mystic Seaport museum celebrating working dogs.

Ahoy! Sea Dog Days are being planned for August 28 & 29, 2010
mysticseaport.org

West Hartford Community Television, May 4, 2009

Moira O'Neill and Chin Chin interviewed on the For Health, For Life television program. View the Show

TOJ TEAM WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD!

BELLEVUE, WA.,
February 26, 2009

Paul Rothberg and Marshmallow from Newington, CT are one of just four Pet Partners (therapy animal) teams being honored as winners in the international Delta Society Beyond Limits Award sponsored by Purina. Honorees were chosen from over ten thousand registered Pet Partners teams representing 13 countries.

Delta Society Pet Partners are specially trained volunteers who with their pet (cat, dog, rabbit, llama, etc.) dedicate themselves to helping improve the lives of others in their communities. They visit hospitalized patients, seniors in assisted living centers, comfort people in hospice, help children learn to read and so much more.

Paul Rothberg & Marshmallow
Winners
Delta Society
Beyond Limits Awards 2008
Pet Partners Rookie Category

Paul Rothberg and his Bichon Frise, Marshmallow, recently won the Rookie category which recognizes Pet Partners with one to two years of experience. According to their many fans, Paul and Marshmallow are a true Pet Partners team. The two started visiting nursing homes when Paul’s mother-in-law was forced to transition to an assisted living facility. After a few visits, Paul and Marshmallow joined a local Delta Society affiliate group called Tails of Joy so they could bring cheer and healing to other residents. They now visit two nursing homes and one hospital regularly.

“Each week seems to bring a new surprise that warms my heart!” Paul says. After only a few visits from Marshmallow, one woman who “didn’t like dogs” commented “I am ninety years old and can’t believe that I have missed this for all my life.” Aside from faithfully making their rounds, Paul continues to volunteer his time with the Tails of Joy group: coordinating new procedures, writing grants, and training new Pet Partners teams. One can only hope that their trainees will someday live up to the example set by this “dream team.”

"Paul and Marshmallow do a wonderful job bringing cheer, hope and healing to the patients, visitors and staff as they make their rounds,” says Kelley Boothby, Volunteer Services Manager at Hartford Hospital.

“They are not only willing and able to help improve human health through therapy animals, but do so with such joy and compassion,” states Terri Carpenter, a Delta Society Pet Partner and Evaluator. Please join us in congratulating and thanking Paul Rothberg and Marshmallow on receiving this special award and for all that they do to bring joy, compassion, motivation and inspiration to many people in your community!

About Delta Society
Delta Society, an international 501(c)(3) non profit, was founded in 1977 by a veterinarian and a psychologist who observed in their own practices that pets had a positive effect on their human patients. They started the organization to fund some of the first credible research which proved that animals have a profound impact on people’s health by lowering their blood pressure, reducing stress and anxiety levels, stimulating the release of endorphins which make people feel good, and so much more. Today, Delta Society helps people across the world become healthier and happier by experiencing the benefits of having companion, service and therapy animals in their everyday lives. To learn more visit our website at www.deltasociety.org.

About Nestlé Purina Pet Care
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina Pet Care is part of the Swiss based Nestlé S.A., the world’s largest pet food company.