FEATURE Jul 2009: The Woodlands Lifestyles & Homes magazine, Therapy Lunch With Dogs

ollins Intermediate School students were rewarded for their hard work and academic improvement by having lunch with the dogs. Now these dogs are not ordinary dogs; they are dogs with jobs —therapy dogs with the Montgomery Pet Partners. And, “Lunch Bunch” is an event designed by MPP to celebrate and encourage students to thrive, persevere and work hard at school.

The therapy dogs come in and read with four children considered at-risk for an hour every week. Called R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs), the program encourages children to read to the dogs because the dogs listen intently, don ’t make fun of the children when they make a mistake, and are always available for hugs and pats.

The “Lunch Bunch” at Collins Intermediate School was celebrated with Moses and Orphy, two specially trained dogs. The 28 children invited to attend the event enjoyed not only a story about an alphabet soup eating dog that could talk, but also were feted with a catered lunch generously provided by Raising Cane ’s restaurant owner Jesson Gill.

MPP is a pet therapy group based in The Woodlands and Conroe that uses the “best friends” of volunteers to perform valuable and rewarding jobs throughout Montgomery County. MPP ’s focus is the development of literacy and social

interaction through R.E.A.D. Certified teams work one-on-one with students who have been identified as having below average reading skills and/or having social challenges. The program help the children learn to cope better in a school setting.

The unconditional love bestowed by the friendly dogs provides the magical motivation that boosts self-confidence and makes reading fun. Equally capable are the skilled, caring human team members who undergo training, testing and extensive background checks to insure their suitability for the task. The dogs are evaluated through a national organization, the Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org and further certified by Intermountain Therapy Animals (www.therapyanimals.org). Other animal assisted activities and animal assisted therapies provided by MPP are extended to hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, libraries and assisted living facilities.

To become a Pet Therapy team member or volunteer with MPP, log on to www.MontgomeryPetPartners.org or send an e-mail to MPP staff at READ@MontgomeryPetPartners.org.