I would like
to nominate Northaven Rider on
the Storm TDI, “Rider,” as FSSA
Service Dog of the Year.
Rider is a
Tail Waggin Tutor. Two
days a week he joins his owner,
Eileen Taubman Santarlasci, at
the A. Russell Knight Elementary
School, where third and fourth
grade students improve
communications skills by reading
to him. Eileen is a
guidance counselor at the
school.
The Tail
Waggin Tutors program is a
national program developed by
Therapy Dogs International that
pairs service dogs with children
learning to read. Reading
to the dogs, children gain
confidence and practice with
reading skills. Reading to
a dog is particularly helpful
for children who are shy about
reading in front of a class.
Dogs are eager listeners, and
they don’t care if children make
mistakes. Visiting Rider
makes reading practice fun, as
well, and children look forward
to their sessions with him and
learn to love reading.
Rider is six
years old. Eileen adopted
him at four months, always
planning for him to become a
therapy dog. He earned his
Canine Good Citizen certificate
at two years old and went on for
TDI certification at five.
He joined the Tail Waggin Tutors
program in October. It is
the best of luck that he and
Eileen found each other.
Rider’s first placement with a
family in Toronto did not work
out, and he lived in Canada with
Peter Archer for a month until
he could be returned to us.
Eileen called us looking for a
puppy the day Rider came home.
Eileen says
that Rider loves the children
and they love him. In
addition to helping them build
reading skills, Rider offers the
children emotional support and
the opportunity to learn social
skills. By learning not to
rush up on Rider, one little
girl has learned about personal
space. Rider comforted
another little girl who was
upset by going to sit at her
feet after she gave him a
tearful hug. A little boy
whose sister has cancer gets a
chance to have special attention
by having extra time with Rider.
Rider has
become the school mascot.
He goes everywhere with Eileen
and is greeted by “Hi, Rider!”
everywhere he goes. The
children are proud of him and
proud to be in a school with its
own dog.
Ryan came to us at three years of age in 1998. Prior to that time he was in a
home where he was severely neglected. When we brought him home, his muscles
were atrophied, he was malnourished, his joints arthritic, and he had many
diseases, including heart worm. He had been exposed to very little
socialization and had to be coaxed to leave his kennel.
As part of his socialization and reconditioning, Ryan was enrolled in a CGC
class which lead to a Therapy Dog class. With a true Field Spaniel
temperament, Ryan blossomed when exposed to kind people and animals. He loved
people and was a very gentle dog. He went on therapy visits with my wife
Joanne as part of a local organization called “Canine Mash.” While not as
flashy and lacking in tricks that many of the other dogs displayed, he stole
people’s hearts and comforted the elderly and ill with his gentle,
affectionate manner.
As a family therapist, Ryan would also accompany Mike to his office where he
was instrumental in helping small, frightened children to feel safe enough to
talk and grumpy, angry, adults comfortable enough to cry. All the while, Ryan
limped around the office, happy to share the warmth of his body and heart.
As Ryan aged, he has suffered various illnesses and increasing debilitation
from arthritis. Over the past couple of years, he was limited to coming to
the office once per month for one special visit with an ailing, elderly man,
who was terminal in his condition. No matter how irritable or grumpy this man
was, he would always light up and smile at the sight of Ryan plodding into
the room on his arthritic legs. This summer, this patient died, so Ryan is
now officially retired from his therapy work at age 13. He still plods and
stumbles around the house, tail wagging, asking only for a pat on the head
and an occasional cookie.
