NOVEMBER 2016
Price 50p
The
The Voice of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre & St Fillans
Reading with Scruffy Are you sitting comfortably...?
Scruffy arrived in Balquhidder in March
2000, having been chosen from one of the SSPCA’s cat and dog rescue homes by Elspeth and Graeme Courtney. They were told he was very good with cats and, as they already had rescue cats at home this was a plus point to override any of the negative behaviours they were told he might have. Scruffy (who was already called that and seemed to suit the name) was only 18 months old and had already been re-housed once and returned to the rescue centre. Scruffy was very closely monitored initially but soon showed what a lovely nature he possessed and settled into his new home and tolerated all the cats around him. Elspeth took him to dog classes in Stirling where, after a while, the trainer asked if they would consider having him assessed to see if he would be a suitable candidate for the Pet Therapy scheme. This is a scheme greatly supported by the trainer; he looks out for appropriate dogs to assess. Elspeth realised this would involve quite a big-time commitment for them but agreed that Scruffy showed all the qualities they look for: he is a very calm and friendly dog who loves being made a fuss over, and enjoys being with people of all ages. He was duly given an initial assessment at their home and then began his training. The charity which manages the whole scheme is Canine Concern Scotland and they co-ordinate all the visits the dogs (and the occasional cat) do once they have completed their training. The dogs mainly visit Care Homes, hospitals and prisons, anywhere where people will benefit from the contact and calming experience of being with the dogs on both a physical and emotional level. Scruffy goes regularly to a home in Stirling where there are adults with physical and learning difficulties and he knows his way around the communal areas where people can pat him and chat to him. He also
Elspeth and ‘Scruffy’
visits one young deaf and blind man and curls up on his couch and puts his head on his knee, all without any instruction now. He has also been involved with events at Stirling University and Forth College called Paws Against Stress where at both Freshers’ week and exam periods the dogs can provide de-stressing times to the students. There are also plans for Stirling to have events for some of the young Carers in the area to benefit from similar relaxing opportunities. Scruffy’s latest involvement in the work of the charity has been with a pilot scheme initiated by Bannockburn Primary - the first primary school in Scotland to do so. Scruffy and one other dog have gone to school once a week for six weeks to visit a group of Primary 5 pupils who struggle for a variety of reasons with their reading. They sit with the dogs and read to them. Scruffy apparently lies down
happily ‘listening’ as the children read in a non-judgemental and non-threatening atmosphere. The school has seen a clear rise in their attainments and Elspeth noticed one girl, who stutters badly in other contexts, reading confidently to Scruffy with no problem at all. There are plans to try and roll out the programme to other parts of Scotland and hopefully Scruffy is going to star in a short television slot about the programme soon. Scruffy and his reading dog pal have been nominated for Therapy Pet of the Year for Scotland for their involvement in this study, which, considering there are over 700 pets currently training with the charity in Scotland, is already high recognition of Scruffy’s qualities and shows what a great ambassador he is for re-housed rescue dogs. It just shows what they can become in the right (Continued on page 16) environment.