Bonnie, a certified labradoodle therapy dog, can’t wait to interact with the students at the Botelle and Colebrook elementary schools, which she visits each week. “She gets excited when I get out her red therapy dog kerchief,” said owner Kate Nelligan of Winsted.
Nelligan brings the dog to Colebrook on Tuesdays, where students read to her, encouraging literacy. That is important to Nelligan, a former reading instructor herself. At Botelle on Thursdays, the pup specializes in kisses and cuddles.
Bonnie has become a great favorite with both Botelle’s students and staff, who all of whom succumb to her soft brown eyes and friendly disposition. She has been coming to Botelle for the past year after completing eight weeks of training through Canine Link Therapy Dogs, a volunteer organization based in Sheffield, Mass. Canine Links prepares therapy dog teams to visit nursing homes, schools, libraries and hospice care centers throughout the tri-state area.
Nelligan said she got the dog because she has an older Labradoodle that “is just so wonderful.”
“I said I wanted another dog from that breeder,” she said, “so, we got Bonnie, and it turns out she is his full sister, although from a different litter, and she is just as wonderful.”
Nelligan said that to be a therapy dog, an animal has to look forward to meeting people and be unflappable in temperament.
Nelligan brings Bonnie to Botelle each week and children are allowed to interact with her for 15 minutes at a time, either singly or in pairs. “She makes me feel calm,” said Elana as she stroked the dog’s head. Soon, Elana was curled up on a bean bag beside Bonnie, staring into her face as she petted the pretty little dog.
Abby was equally engaged with the pup on her other side, gently stroking her fur.