By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Ortonville

– Readers in the Harvey Swanson Elementary Library were joined by a furry companion on Tuesday morning.

Honey, a golden retriever, rested calmly at the feet of Raemi Stach. The first grader, who has a visual impairment, used her fingers to read a Braille book and occasionally reached down to pat Honey, while also seeking affection from the therapy dog’s handler, Sabine Baker.

“I need a hug,” said Raemi, quickly obliged by Baker, who also encouraged her to hug the dog. The little girl leaned down and kissed Honey’s fur, and the dog responded with tail wags.

Courtney Robb, an Oakland Schools orientation and mobility specialist who visits Harvey Swanson twice a week to assist children with special needs, said she wanted Raemi to visit the therapy dog to increase her interest in reading Braille . She believes it is working.

“I think the dog is great,” said Robb. “Honey gives her a different reason to stay focused.”

Children with sight were also reaping the benefits.

Lilly Guzman, 5, and Adrien Godfrey, 6, arrived next to take their turns reading to Honey, who happily accepted the attention as the children also remarked about the dog’s size and fluffiness and questioned how she got her name.

Baker, a township resident, explained that her children chose the name based on the dog’s color. Honey is 4-and-a-half-years-old and well-educated herself. Baker took the dog to multiple training classes, including through Dr. Paws, a non-profit pet assisted therapy organization, in order to get her certified as a good canine citizen. Honey has an easy-going temperament and is well-qualified to be a therapy dog, accompanying Baker to Harvey Swanson once a week for two hours, as well as to the Brandon Township Library. She also travels to Oakland University where college students pet the dog for stress relief, particularly during final exam weeks.

In a letter home to Harvey Swanson Elementary parents in December, Principal Bill Renner introduced Honey as a therapy dog and newest member of the school, explaining the many benefits of having such a service dog at the school. Evidence shows, he wrote, that “dogs can enhance children’s psychological development, improve social skills, and increase self-esteem” as well as “teach responsibility, compassion and respect,” “calm fears, relieve anxiety and teach skills.”

“A dog is non-judgmental,” noted Renner on Tuesday. “This is someone for them to practice reading to or talk to about life. The dogs is a living, breathing sounding board that is furry and likes to listen. We have seen a positive effect on the kids.”

Teachers choose which children may be more in need of some one-on-one time with the therapy dog, he added, and Honey has been a great addition to the school.

Baker notes children become calmer and are very happy when they are with Honey, who reacts differently with each child.

“With some she is more lively, but with children that are timid, she is more calm,” she said. “It’s really interesting to me, I’m always wondering how she knows which child needs what. It is just her instinct and that is what it makes it so awesome. It is a lot of work for her, she soaks up all these emotions and energy from these children and then comes home and sleeps. I just enjoy working with children and think it is wonderful what Honey gives to those children and that is why I want to do it. I just know it is a good thing.”