Also passing the training was Peter Hirschfeld and Max. Max’s job is bringing emotional comfort to patients, and Bella’s is helping children build reading skills by improving their confidence.
Lydia Calderon, a teacher at Flowery Elementary, has seen it work. She participated in the El Verano Summer Academy this year and taught a Spanish reading class. A number of students, both Anglo and Hispanic, were hesitant to try. But when Calderon announced that a literacy dog was coming to their class once a week, attitudes quickly changed, she said. “The students would practice all week long in hopes of being able to read and to help Rudy become bilingual. They wanted Rudy to do well in school, too.”
With a grant from Impact100 Sonoma, 4Paws will offer trainings at Sonoma’s Vintage in April. Trainings consist of two classes, a handler evaluation, and a canine temperament test. Find out more at 4pawscenter.org.
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