Newsletter, Christmas 2005

HAPPY HOWL-I-DAYS!!!
As I was leaving Mariana School one recent morning, I heard someone say to another, "all the reading dogs are so sweet." It made me think about how blessed we've been in this program to have not only the "sweetest dogs," but also the most caring, compassionate and devoted handlers. Whenever there is a need, teams step up to the challenge and the need is filled. New teams seek us out and there is a waiting list for our visits. We have handlers of all ages and dogs of all sizes. Each team adds something special to the program. A big "THANK YOU" goes out to all the teams for their hard work. May your lives be blessed as you have blessed others. Woofs to All, Nancy

DOG TALES - PJ's PAL MOHAVE
Howdy, pardner! My name is Mohave. I am a Chocolate Lab/Springer mix and I am 4 years old. As you can see by the spelling of my name, I am not named for the Mojave Road or even the Mojave Desert. My mom and dad belong to a four-wheel-drive group called "The friends of the Mojave Road." They met while mom was leading a trip. The Mojave Road is the original route of travel into California. It was originally a Native American trading route that went from the Arizona border to the California coast. When the white man came to settle here they also used the route. It is very close to Route 66. Mojave Road is not much more than a dirt road now. It was rediscovered and maintained by their club. To make a long story short, once the road crosses into Arizona it becomes The Mohave Road, hence the spelling of my name.

In 1999 mom lost her canine companion of 19 years and had not really gotten over it. On her birthday my dad brought me home to help her.

I was so cute and cuddly that she fell in love with me instantly. She says that this was just the therapy she needed. I was so happy and we bonded right away. Mom did not know much about therapy dogs until she got me; she just knew that dogs were therapy! Since I was just a pup, she told me that I was a very important dog and that someday I would be doing very special work. I am now a certified Therapy Dog and also R.E.A.D.® certified. Kids have been reading to me at Serrano Library for over a year and I have now started reading with kids at two schools. I really love my work, especially since I get to spend so much time with my mom, away from my brothers and sisters. Well, that is my story in a nutshell. I hope to see you around and as my mom would say "Happy Trails." A true story by Mohave & Nancy Woodside Nunn

TUMMY RUBS!
Due to the generous donations of about 700 books from Victorville Sunrise Rotary and about 700 books from Delta Kappa Gamma in Apple Valley, we will be able to provide more books to more children than we had ever dreamed. Thank you all so much!!!!
For our "Make A Difference Day" festivities, many thanks go to Apple Valley WalMart and the Tatum Family for their generous money donations, and to Marilyn Wagner, our local Avon Representative, for supplying goodies at cost to help fill senior gift bags. Without everyone's help, it would never have been so successful!!! Big tummy rubs to all!

WELCOME NEW R.E.A.D.® TEAMS!
Since our last newsletter we've had several teams complete R.E.A.D.® training. Every team is busy working with children at schools or libraries. We send a hearty welcome to:

* Peggy Sedgwick and Fred, Victorville Library and Rio Vista School
* Roxann Webb and AllyOop, Rio Vista School, Apple Valley
* Brianna Thompson and Cookie, Serrano Library, Phelan
* Lisa Cripps and Time, Apple Valley Library
* Mary Marble and Shuz, Victorville Library
* Jean Donnaly and Sophie, Victorville Library
* Eileen Shaw and Burns, Mojave Vista School, Victorville

We will be having a new R.E.A.D.® training session in January. New teams are invited to participate. Call Nancy at 240-0551 or email if you're interested.
Way to go teams ! ! !

Welcome To Your Program! PUPDATES TO REMEMBER!!
Mark these dates on your calendar!!
CHRISTMAS CAROLING!! With Paws 4 Love and PJ's Pals. We hope you can all come and join in on this fun and "pawsitiviely wonderful" tradition to again help make it a "howling success!!"

Tuesday, Dec. 6
4:30 PM - Apple Valley Care
5:30 PM - Merrill Gardens

Thursday, Dec. 8
2:30 PM - Desert Knolls
3:45 PM - Knolls West

Monday, Dec. 12
4:00 PM - Foremost - "Soup Supper" following at the Ziprick home. Please bring either crackers, bread or desert.

Jan., 2006 - R.E.A.D.® Training Session
Call Nancy (240-0551) if interested.

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006 -PJ's PALS MEETING
6:30 PM - Sterling Inn, Regency Room
IMPORTANT! Please plan to be there!

Feb., 2006 (date still pending)
BARNES AND NOBLE R.E.A.D.® -IN, Victorville
Barnes and Noble, Victorville Store

WHAT'S NEW?
New Library:
* Victorville Library - "Wagging Tales"
Opened in September with great enthusiasm! The teams making it all possible are, Betty and Foxie, Mary and Shuz, Jean and Sophie, and Peggy and Fred. Thanks also to Kerre and Janna for filling in.

New Schools:
* Theodore Vick Elementary, Adelanto, Nancy and Mojave, Donna and Gilroy
* Brentwood Elementary, Victorville, Nancy and Mojave, Donna and Gilroy
* Mojave Vista Elementary, Victorville, Linda and PicaBoo, Eileen and Burns
* Apple Valley Christian, Apple Valley, Kerre and JanaSuzanna, Nancy and Wilbur

Coming Soon! New In January:
* Silverlakes Community Library, Charlie and Sweetheart, Margarete and Sydney, Kathy and Honey, Donna and Gilroy, Barb and Lass
* Hesperia Christian School, Kris and Jett
We still have 3 schools looking for teams: Anyone interested? Contact Nancy!
* Sycamore Rocks, Apple Valley
* Victor Elementary, Victorville
* AAE, Apple Valley

Newsletter Committee
Senior Editor: Nancy Winters
Production Editor: Larry Winters

Thanks again to all our teams and to all our contributors to the program.
PAWS-I-TIVELY SUCCESSFUL
Kidfest: Thank you to Kerre and all the teams who participated in Kidfest at the fairgrounds. We were there with Apple Valley and Victorville Libraries. Everyone really enjoyed the day.
Make a Difference Day: This event was chaired by our two junior handlers, Tyler McGee and Branna Thompson. The day included a Rodeo Queen, pony, goat, baby pigs, 4-H agility demo and animal costume parade. Good food, music and hayride completed the day. Merrill Gardens bussed in residents who enjoyed themselves so much they told us to invite them back.

Phelan Parade: Coordinated by Debby Lynn, our Clifford R.E.A.D.® dogs proudly walked the route and were awarded a 1st place trophy. Thanks to Debby and all who walked to help make this event successful.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!
And to all a good night!