PAT
CAPE TOWN
Nigel with Max, visiting Leliebloem
Laragh and mum Judy at Brenhurst
Heidi and Olivia visiting the Spinal
Unit
Here's Jethro with one of the residents at Hellen Keller
who always invites him onto her bed. She moved rooms a couple of months ago,
but Jethro always drags me to her old room and is disappointed when she's not
there! As soon as he is reminded, he's off at a trot to the new room.
OCEANVIEW SCHOOL
Morris Minor at Sherwood House. A right little charmer!
His 2 x legged mother (Avril) is well pleased!
Tammy, my 3
year old golden retriever, and I have been visiting the Peter Pan Down Syndrome
Centre since September last year.
This centre
was originally established in 1986 by mothers of young children with Down
Syndrome who were unable to find pre-school facilities of any kind for their
children. Today it is a multi-cultural pre-school offering comprehensive full
day care and specialized learning facilities for 60 children aged two to seven
years.
This has
been a challenging and extremely rewarding assignment. The children are split
into 3 different classes on age. To date the emphasis of our visits has been to
acquaint the children, especially the youngest class, with a pet dog. Many of
these children have not been exposed to pets and some are absolutely terrified
of dogs. Once you sit on the floor with the children you then realize how ‘big’
a golden retriever is! The challenge has been in trying to overcome this fear.
The reward is seeing these children slowly over time become braver and less
fearful and eventually patting and brushing Tammy. With the 2 older classes I
am now getting the children to individually take Tammy for a small walk
indoors.
Tammy has
proven to be the perfect dog in this situation with her fantastic temperament.
At times the kids can get excited and she can have up to 15 children touching,
pulling, inspecting her etc. She absorbs all this with composure until I
reintroduce some order. I sometimes question the ‘value add’ that we provide
but I then think of the ‘Hello Tammy’, ‘Bye Tammy’, ‘We love you Tammy’ comments
from the children and it just makes our visits so worthwhile.
Keith Jones
-
PAT Volunteer
Visiting Organisations:
