PAWS for People Community Newsletter: Early July, 2022 |
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PAWS for Reading Returns for the Summer |
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The Summer of 2022 has arrived, children are home from school, and PAWS for Reading is going strong at our partner libraries.
Across three states and many counties, our pups, cats, and bunnies are arriving to see the joyous faces of young children eagerly waiting to share their favorite stories with a furry friend. Reading with our therapy teams encourages children of all ages to improve their skills and take on new challenges. Whether they are very young and just learning to read or an older child working to build the confidence to read aloud in public, our gentle loving pets provide a safe environment where readers can thrive over their summer break and throughout the year
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Libraries currently offering in-person visits with PAWS for People therapy pets include: Appoquinimink Community Library, Atglen Public Library, Avon Grove Library, Bear Library, Brandywine Hundred Library, Claymont Public Library, Corbit-Calloway Public Library, Delaware City Library, Dover Public Library, Downingtown Library, Frankford Public Library, Georgetown Library, Havre de Grace Library, Helen Kate Furness Free Library, Kennett Library, Kent County Public Library, Kirkwood Library, Laurel Public Library, Media-Upper Providence Library, Milton Public Library, New Castle Library, Newark Free Library, North East Branch Cecil County Library, North Wilmington Library, Parkesburg Free Library, Primos Branch (Upper Darby Free Library), Rachel Kohl Community Library, Route 9 Library, Seaford District Library, Selbyville Public Library, South Coastal Library, Springfield Library, and Swarthmore Public Library.
Take your child for a reading session and watch the magic that happens when you add PAWS to books, kids, and reading!
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Wag & Walkathon Coming Soon |
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As we reach the half-way point of summer, PAWS for People’s WAG & Walkathon committee is hard at work planning our biggest fundraising event of the year. We are excited to announce the theme for our 2022 cumulative marathon is WAG Your Tail on the Trail!
26.2 miles in 30 days
We will begin hitting the trails on September 15th to kick-off a marathon over the course of the month-long event, culminating in the WAG & Walkathon Cross the Finish Line celebration at Glasgow Park on Saturday, October 15th.
WAG Your Tail on the Trail Details
- September 15 to October 15, 2022
- $20 for adults, $10 for children if you register by August 31st.
- 26.2 miles in 30 days. Cumulative marathon, going the distance at your own pace.
- Fun contests and prizes as you explore trails in your local community.
- In-person cross the finish line event at Glasgow Park on Saturday, October 15, 2022
Watch your email for registration details and be sure to sign-up by the August 31st early registration deadline. We look forward to Wagging and Walking with you on the trails this fall!
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Ellie (Lauren Quirk) listens to a young reader recently at the new Appoquinimink Library in Middletown, DE. |
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Saphira (Becky Cronin) visits at Barnes & Noble in the Christiana Mall last weekend DeStressing shoppers. |
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PAWS Visits Bring Positive Effects |
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"Recently while Jack and I were visiting at a local Assisted Living facility, we had an experience with an elderly couple that really reminded me of the positive effect our animals can have on the mental state of a person....even a person with advanced dementia. When I opened the entry door, I saw a couple sitting on their sofa, the woman cuddled very closely to her husband. She was clearly in a state of distress and upset. The husband indicated it was OK to enter. Jack and I approached, although the husband had very little to say. There was a coffee table between the couple and us, so I did not bring Jack closer. At that point a caregiver came into the area and acknowledged Jack's presence, as I introduced ourselves. Within a short time the woman noticed Jack, watched him for a moment, then began to smile. She never took her eyes off of him. Her caregiver was quite amazed that this big fluffy, wolfie- looking dog could bring this woman so quickly out of her distressed state that had persisted for quite a while to a state of calm and joy. As long as we stayed in the room, the resident smiled and remained peaceful. I'm sure that many of us experience such reactions at times. This reminded me of my own understanding of how a person's internal experience and mood may change as their attention is moved to an external source...especially when the focus is something as pleasant and interesting as an animal. For so many people, regardless of the physical or mental issues they have, our animals bring about positive change. The duration of the change can be profound. This is why pet therapy works so well."
-PAWS Member, Maggie Bagnal
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Pet Care After an Insect Sting |
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We are pleased to continue our series of articles from Concord Pet Foods & Supplies, a PAWS Business Partner with extensive pet-related experience. We will continue providing informative articles in several of our e-Newsletters. The topic for this month is “Pet Care After an Insect Sting.”
Insect stings can be painful or itchy, or may cause more severe skin or allergic reactions. What should you do to care for your pet after an insect sting to keep the animal comfortable and avoid any other possible complications?
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PAWS to Offer Orientation, STEX & Training
in both Newark & Milton, DE
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Do you have a great pet who is sweet and friendly and LOVES people, and you think sharing all that love would be a good way to give back to people in the community?
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a therapy team with your dog, cat or bunny, we have OST (Orientation, STEX, and Training) coming up in both our Newark Office and also at the library in Milton, DE.
Newark, DE
Wednesdays, July 13th & 27th at 6 PM
Wednesdays, August 10th & 24th at 6 PM
Saturdays, August 13th & 27th at 10 AM
Milton, DE
Saturdays, July 16th and 30th at 10:30 AM
Saturdays, August 6th & 20th at 10:30 AM
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A study done at Seattle Children’s Hospital found that following the therapy dogs visits to their hospital, pediatric oncology patients reported a lower level of distress and significant decrease in several important areas: worry, tiredness, fear, sadness, and pain. Children undergoing treatment for serious illnesses have more than the illness itself to deal with. Some bear the burden of the emotional aspect of having a disease in the first place. Many of the children suffer from the side effects of their treatments, and all the kids must deal with the fear of the unknown and the changes in their family’s lifestyle. Changes, pain, and fear – all are part of having a serious illness and things our therapy dogs cannot take away. But they are all things that visiting with a friendly, furry pet can make a little easier to take, a little gentler to deal with, and a lot less scary to go through. Our PAWS therapy teams help so many kids and their parents get through the tough parts of illness. Thank you to all our PAWS teams that work with sick kids and their care takers. You provide a very special gift to those who deal with physical and mental pain.
-Lynne Robinson, Executive Director
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Tina Maclary discovered the magic of PAWS pet therapy while undergoing her own cancer treatment. When she adopted her sweet, adorable mixed breed, Peanut, she knew Peanut would be an excellent therapy pet and they completed training in February of 2015.
They began visits at Little Sisters of the Poor until COVID shutdown in March of 2020. A retired teacher, Tina and Peanut became a PAWS for Reading team and added visits at Newark Library and NCCL School as well as Community Events to their PAWS schedule. When they moved to Sussex County, Tina and Peanut did not miss a beat! They read at the Georgetown Library and helped open the program at Georgetown Elementary School. They also visited a special little boy through a PAWS Special Request Visit. Tina became a First Visit Assistant and now helps new teams learn the PAWS ropes.
Thank you, Tina and Peanut, for so generously sharing your gifts and bringing joy to everyone you visit!
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Trish and Ed Fronczkowski attended a community fundraiser when they happened upon the PAWS for People information table. As they learned about PAWS pet therapy, they knew their sweet, gentle Staffordshire terrier mix, Buster, would be a wonderful therapy companion.
Trish and Ed completed Orientation, STEX, and Training with Buster in December of 2015. The three began regular visits with the elders at Foulk Manor North and attended many DeStress and Community Events. During the same time period, Buster & Trish spent lots of time visiting children as a PAWS in the Workplace team at Trish’s home daycare.
As we emerged from COVID, Trish and Buster completed their Master’s Certification and began visiting at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in March 2021.
Thank you Trish, Ed, and Buster for sharing your sweet snuggles and furry comfort with everyone you visit!
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Thanks to our PAWS Partners |
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Donate While You Shop
The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases when selected by customers. Choose PAWS for People when you log in: smile.amazon.com
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