Drew is team 2175 in the READ Program - Finally!

Our sweet, LAZY boy Drew is finally a Reading Education Assistance Dog. His tag came in the mail on Friday. We are still working at getting into the local library 2 miles from our house for their special reading program.

We have one more shadow visit left where Drew will be the listener and then he'll be able to go out on his own to find children challenged with reading aloud to classmates. I sat in on the first shadow visit where I just observed. It's very uplifting to see the children read while keeping a hand on the dog for reassurance. After the session, the trainer relayed to me that one of the readers (who is 10 and reads at a 1st grade level) had improved tremendously. He couldn't sit for even 2 minutes in the first session, but was now sitting and reading for 15 minutes, and hoping to get more time to read a little longer!

Drew is a knucklehead at times - forever foraging to eat something that might kill him. He is just like a little child, always pushing the boundaries and needing reminding of what the rules are. I think that trait will make him a great reading partner. He's not perfect; their reading skills won't be perfect, so there will be an instant bond between child and dog!

Marietta Farmer's Market M&G

Each Saturday May - June and in September, SEGA has a M&G booth at the Marietta Farmer's Market. We are 'limited' to 3 hounds each visit, but that doesn't keep us from providing a little additional color variety for potential adopters to observe. Today we had 8 hounds in all today, and were very mindful not to block any other vendors from potential sales. Personally, I think the dogs draw people to the area we are in.

We've started using gorgeous Donation Jackets from Christel Ausman at Cottage Hound Designs. What a difference in fun'raising that has made for our SEGA organization this spring! Christel gets her silk fabrics from Alisha at 2Hounds Design, so you can get a matching coat and collar set if you really want to show you're hound as a fashion statement. In just the special M&G events this spring, we've collected over $750 in donations (that we normally only put a jar out that collects at best $20).

Seriously take a look at the quality workmanship and creativity that Christel has to offer. We always collect more than the cost of 1 jacket in one outing. Today we collected $163 in 4 hours! You could say that Nikki and Handy in their purple jackets are 'strippers' - they lure dollars from the small children and get them stuffed them in their jackets.

Handy is pictured above in her Donation Dog Jacket in purple with Teal Dragonflies. She is being admired by Jenna K of Mr. K's Cookies at the market. Jenna is a weekly regular, and was promoted to hound holder this weekend. Mr. K is being bit by the GH bug - he started asking questions today - maybe we'll have an application from him by the end of the summer!

Saturday's Sweet Face...

Handy's not the most photogenic subject. She always manages to look away, yawn, turn sideways, have her tongue hanging out, and so on. She usually looks like a grumpy old lady! Well, her personality is exactly the opposite. She's wound up like a top when she gets her 'special' collar and necklace on - the lady of the house must dress for off-site adventures to meet her adoring public.

I finally captured her true spirit in this photo - she'll be 11 in September, but her spirit is that of a loving hound just off the track looking for that new forever home. Honey Handy - we're glad you picked us to provide a pillow to lay your head upon in your senior years. You are a beauty!

Thursday Terror!

Is Handy going to eat the whole Duck? No, but there's not many honks left in it!

Wordless Wednesday