Dae
By: Anne Woodward
On Sept. 11, Dae and I were at Oakland Elementary, Boiling Springs working with Ingrid Norris, Spartanburg Humane Society. We did five presentations on how dogs are cared for when they arrive at the shelter. The kids love it, as they feed Dae, give her water, brush her, place a blanket for her to rest on down on the floor, check her temperature, heart, lungs, ears, eyes and nose, pretend to give her medications plus take her for a walk in the classroom. With one student we were walking across the classroom, turned around and Dae sat down in front of me. I encouraged the student to tell Dae lets go and Dae proceeded to walk backwards across the room. I could not resist asking if she always walked her dog backwards? This, of course, gave all the kids, second graders, a good laugh as well as the teacher. Dae adores children and thrives on the hugs and kisses during our visits.
We began our visits October, 2012 and by May, 2013 we had made over 60 visits to classrooms, career days, 4-H Meetings, a birthday party whereby gifts were for the Spartanburg Humane Society, McCarthy-Teszler School, and Dillon Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care. On June 20, 2013, Dae was awarded her AKC Therapy Dog Title—she is AKC registered as an All-American Dog. We are now attending a Beginner Novice Training Class with Palmetto Obedience Dog Club. Maybe some day we’ll be good enough to compete! All this from a dog on the verge of being euthanized but saved by being chosen for the obedience training program at the NC Prison in Spindale.
I cherish my hours with Dae as we make our visits and delight in the happiness she brings to all who meet her. We owe so much to paws2care for accepting us.