We just got home from the Marin – Sonoma County Fair.
The new group that we work with, “Paws for Healing” in Napa, had a “Paws for Reading” booth at the fair. This was Shelby’s first reading dog experience. We had three very special children come by and read to Shelby during our one hour shift that ran from 2 to 3PM. There were 2 readings dogs and handlers assigned to the booth for each hour from 1 until 6PM.
We had a ton of kids read to dogs that ranged in size from a Chihuahua to a Borzoi. Every child who read to a dog got 2 very special presents, one was a white pencil with blue paw prints on it and the second was a book marker with a photo of the dog they read to. Shelby now has her very own book marker.
Our booth was in the area where “The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest” takes place. One of the PAWS member has won the the title seven times with 2 different dogs. The Animal Planet Network films the “Ugliest Dog Contest” and airs the show in October. So the Animal Planet let our friend know that they were very interested in filming in the “Paws for Reading” booth so people could see what the reading dog program is all about. I wasn’t aware of it, but the film crew was filming when Shelby and I sat down with our first reader and filmed other reading dog teams throughout the afternoon.
As we were winding down and getting ready to close the the booth, the Ugliest Dog Contest was just getting underway. The MC said last years contest video was one of the top 10 visited YouTube sites last year. The coverage is world wide! There were photographers all over the place, I saw lenses on camera’s that were as big as Shelby! Not really, but man they were HUGE! Our friend has been on the Tonight Show, twice! Still photographers, movie crews, local TV and newspaper reporters, and a ton of spectators. It was an amazing sight to see.
Our mentor/leader said that today was a big success! A lot of kids got to read to dogs, a lot of people found out about the reading dog program and want to get involved. We had kids tell us in their school they have to do extra credit work in order to read to the dog that comes to their classroom twice a week. And Shelby carried the TRIPAWD banner high! We told several people about the website and about the Nor-Cal group.
Shelby slept all the way home, about a half an hour and she is sacked next to me on the couch. I am still blown away, humbled and amazed at what she has been able to do since she came to live with us, and just think, in Taiwan, she was a dog they had thrown away.
By: maximutt on June 25, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Shelby, you are an amazing young lady! Congrats on all your accomplishments, and those yet to come! Keep the stories coming!!
By: krun15 on June 25, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Shelby you are awesome. And those two leggers in your pack are pretty special too..
See you all in a few weeks.
Karen and the pug girls
By: Daisy on June 25, 2010 at 10:07 pm
That sounds like such a cool program! Good job, Shelby!
By: etgayle on June 26, 2010 at 7:18 am
wow shelby, you are a bookmark!! you sure do get to do some amazing things and show folks how great us tripawds are!! thanks for the update.
gayle
By: Jana on June 26, 2010 at 9:29 am
Wow Shelby. I think letting kids read to you is awesome! You are an amazing young lady. Your staff is pretty fabulous also.
Hugs to you sweet PP.
Your friend, Jana
By: cemil on June 26, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Some princesses just use the title to build themselves up–you are a true princess who uses her position to help others. Bless you!!
By: Kami (Mackenzie's Mom) on June 26, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Hey Petite Princess – what a wonderful cause you’re involved with! You are so pawesome. I bet if they were to hold the “Prettiest Princess” contest you would take first prize! Now for the ugly dog contest….how could any dog be ugly??? That should be very interesting to see :).
You are an amazing petite princess for sure.
By: credocanis on June 26, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Who wouldn’t love a Petite Princess and all of her work? So impressive. What a great story. You service dogs make all the difference. Thank you, a thousand times over!!
Lincoln’s Mom
By: anyemery on June 27, 2010 at 10:05 am
Shelby, you are an inspiration to us! What an awesome princess you are! We’re sure those kids who read to you felt very special indeed to be reading to our very own Petite Princess!
Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
By: Ginger on June 28, 2010 at 12:41 pm
P.P.
You are so special and with all those good deeds you do – you should be in the running for a promotion to queen.
At the very least – you should get a crown. Maybe I could share my pink princess crown with you. I think you deserve more than me.
Love hearing about all your adventures.
Golden kisses,
Ginger
By: wyattraydawg on June 30, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Ugly Dog Contest? Well I know there’s no way they would have mistaken you for a contestant!
Shelby, you go around the world creating so much love and joy. Thank you for making this world a better place for humans. Your joy is contageous.