Prescott therapy dogs offering ‘Unconditional Love’
Pet Partners of Prescott volunteers, furry friends returning from COVID-19 hiatus to help local school children read

First-graders Ava Butler, Jessica Kaawaloa and Alexandrea Williams (left to right) read with Bailey, a dog with the Pet Partners of Prescott. (Nanci Hutson/Courier)

First-graders Ava Butler, Jessica Kaawaloa and Alexandrea Williams (left to right) read with Bailey, a dog with the Pet Partners of Prescott. (Nanci Hutson/Courier)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meSIiqDU7HU&feature=youtu.be

Sacred Heart Catholic School first grader Audrey Stephens delighted in reading the play “The Contest” with her classmate Evan Moore and a guest she couldn’t resist snuggling with every now and again.

At the end of story time, Audrey was rewarded with a nuzzling kiss from said guest – one she gratefully received as her eyes twinkled and mouth widened in a smile beneath her school-required cloth mask.

Audrey and Evan weren’t the only ones treated to the authentic affection – their guest is an equal opportunity lover of children who enjoys hearing their voices as they gain confidence reading aloud.

Bailey is not just any guest, however. He is an apricot-colored, curly Standard Poodle, who with his handler Laure Zaffuto, visits area schools as part of the “Read With Me” pet therapy program through the all-volunteer Pet Partners of Prescott organization.

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Audrey Stephens and Evan Moore in Janice Barrett’s first grade class reading the play “The Contest” with Pet Partners Standard Poodle Bailey. (Nanci Hutson/Courier)

Pre-COVID-19, Pet Partners’ 32 volunteers and their trained therapy dogs visited schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, libraries, juvenile detention and other public events. Since the pandemic, however, the volunteers and their dogs have been quite limited, with schools just beginning to reopen and allow the dogs to visit again.

At Sacred Heart, these canine guests are beloved and prove a real encouragement to the children as they are building up their confidence as independent readers. One day last week, Bailey was visiting a first-grade class and Golden Retriever Oro and his handler Kathy Pessin spent time with a second-grade class. A third volunteer Susan Rubio and her terrier mix Baxter also paid a visit to the school.

Pessin said she started a few years back volunteering with hospice and then one-on-one with hospital patients. The reaction to both was “amazing” and she looks forward to when she can return.

In the schools, Pessin and Zaffuto said the dogs bring yet their own brand of magic and comfort to the children.

Whether a child is anxious, happy, sad, or maybe even restless, the dogs accept them just as they are and the children respond. Any observer can witness the irresistible pull that attracts the boys and girls to touch, hug, and engenders gentle “kisses” from these all-accepting animals.

“They just snuggle up to the dogs and tell them all their troubles,” Pessin said.

Studies show that simply petting a dog can calm a person, lowering one’s blood pressure and anxiety level, Zaffuto said. She said she and Bailey started their therapy work together in hospitals, and there was nothing like watching a patient’s eyes light up when he walked into the room. “That type of emotional connection helps people heal,” Zaffuto said.

In school settings, children equally gravitate to these dogs’ unconditional affection and acceptance, a major plus in these unsettling times when children, teachers and administrators have all been forced to learn and educate in all new ways, school staff has told Zaffuto.

Upon entering Janice Barrett’s first-grade classroom last week, Zaffuto and Bailey are immediate celebrities. The children are animated, eager to take turns reading with the tall, stately and well-groomed pooch on a carpeted space in the rear of the classroom. This day’s assignment is to read aloud their first play, “The Contest.” Bailey gladly absorbs the random affection.

Before beginning to read, Zaffuto offers each child a chance to get introduced, encouraging them to gently pet Bailey under his chin. They quickly learn he will reciprocate their soft strokes with his own brand of hugs and kisses.

“I think it’s fun,” enthused Audrey who couldn’t resist stroking his paw as she turned her pages. “I really like reading.” Class partner Evan found Bailey the perfect listener as Zaffuto assisted with new words and phrases.

Sacred Heart Principal Shelly Cooper was clear she enjoys the dogs coming to school as much as any student.

“Not only is it good for my social and emotional health, the kids really enjoy them,” Cooper said. “The social/emotional experience is huge.”

With the Prescott Unified School District reopening for in-person instruction at the lower age level, Zaffuto said plans are to restart reading visits in their elementary schools. PUSD Superintendent Joe Howard said he expects they will be the most welcome visitors on campus.

“We’ve had then come to the district office,” Howard said of the renovated Washington School on East Gurley Street. “Those dogs do good for all of our hearts.”

Howard said he admires those willing to undergo handler and dog training so these pets can be a comfort to others in settings, especially in these unparalleled times of confusion and stress for students, faculty/staff and families.

“It’s just like in our homes,” Howard said of the “beautiful friendships” people are able to build with pets. “To read a book WITH A DOG makes everything better!”

“It really is about unconditional love,” Zaffuto concluded.


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