When Roo arrived in August 2013, a new world opened up to us all. Our family had a wonderful new addition to it, and my workplace received a new part-time staff member!
Having met a number of greyhounds during the years, I was so impressed with their calm and gentle nature, that it was obvious a greyhound would be the ideal family dog for us. Finally having received approval for a ‘reading dog’ pilot-programme at my workplace, Otara Library, the doors opened for a very special dog – and so Roo came into our lives.
Roo’s progress in the library has been nothing short of positive. The local kids love him, and they, and their parents, have been so supportive of the reading programme. A fifteen-minute, one-on-one session is booked, the kids select their own reading material, and without any interruption or interference for adults, they read Roo their stories. The results so far have been awesome – reluctant readers willing to read to Roo as he ‘is a cool dog’, confident readers sharing their stories with him, little girls have sung songs to him and emerging readers have practiced new words, or have just told him stories from their own imaginations.
Apart from helping children with their literacy, Roo has also helped take some of the fear of dogs away from many children. He has had families meet him who have never touched a dog before and worked wonders with kids who have been frightened or hurt by dogs in the past. His ability to create empathy and compassion with library patrons as well as people in the streets has been incredible. Roo has even won over the hearts of work colleagues and extended family members who were hesitant about dogs – and everyone who meets him is so impressed with his calm, gentle manners and excellent behaviour. He even has his own blog at: http://readingwithroo.wordpress.com/, so that the kids can see themselves reading to Roo in the library.
We love Roo and his cute, quirky ways – his love of ice cream and his ability to look like an angelic puppy when we come home with the groceries (knowing a chicken carcass or two are on their way!), his crazy zoomies, full-on ‘cockroaching’ anywhere comfy, collection of teddies and generous cuddles. His absolute enthusiasm for walks and sprints along beaches and in fields and his swims in the ocean and stinky duck-ponds are becoming legendary. Roo is more that I had ever hoped for in a dog, and we are so grateful to GAP and to Gary for matching us up with such an awesome reading dog and wonderful family pet!
http://greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/reading-with-roo/