She may be tiny, but Doozie is big on listening.
That’s why she was the perfect pooch to spend some time being read to by kids at the Oxford Public Library last week.
‘Dogs just love to have the attention,? said Doozie’s owner, Pat Marsh, an Oxford resident since 1974.
Marsh and Doozie are members of the New Jersey-based Therapy Dogs International (TDI).
Established in 1976, TDI is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registering therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries and wherever else such comforting animals are needed.
‘Therapy dogs have been proven to lower blood pressure in people,? Marsh said. ?(Doozie) goes to the hospital and visits patients, staff and visitors. It brings great delight to them.?
Doozie’s job at the library was to help children practice their reading skills in a safe, comfortable atmosphere.
‘It relaxes them,? Marsh said. ‘They’re not being judged on whether they’ve made a mistake or not.?
Children who have difficulties reading tend to develop self-esteem issues that often make them self-conscious when reading aloud in front of others, particularly classmates.
Reading out loud to an attentive and patient pup like Doozie helps children gain confidence, stay focused and associate reading with a pleasant experience.
Marsh and Doozie have been visiting and helping folks of all ages through TDI for the past 3? years.
‘She fit in just perfect,? Marsh said. ‘She loves kids. She loves people, especially men. She loves other dogs. She’s a very social lady.?
Marsh met Doozie when she was a 2-year-old stray found in North Carolina. Marsh drove down to get her and they’ve been together ever since.
When asked what type of breed Doozie is, Marsh called her an ‘all American.?
‘She’s a little bit of everything. We don’t use the m-u-t-t word.?
Marsh got involved in TDI as a way to spend time with her pooch and get out into the world.
‘I decided I wanted to do something with my dog instead of being in the house all the time or leaving her home all the time,? she said.
‘It helps me is what it does. It gets me out. It gets me circulating. It gets me social. I’ve made so many new friends.. It’s a new life for me.?
Seeing hospital patients light up when Doozie comes to visit them is one of Marsh’s favorite parts of her work.
‘She gets right into bed with patients and loves it. They just melt.?
Marsh also enjoys bringing Doozie to visit schools, particularly when she can help a child overcome a fear of dogs.
‘We’ve seen children who are petrified of dogs, within a few months time, wrapping their arms around them, just loving them.?
For more information about Therapy Dogs International please visit www.tdi-dog.org.