After being adopted from the SPCA in 2017, Scud didn’t just go on to be the centre of his pet mom’s world, he also became the perfect pillar of support to community members in need, through the Pets as Therapy (PAT) programme.
Scud is PAT’s first therapy dog and started his illustrious career at a seniors’ care home in Fish Hoek after COVID-19. Now, he visits the home once a week.
According to Scud’s proud pet mom, Marian Shinn this extra-special ex-SPCA Special is also the first therapy dog in Cape Town to work in PAT’s pioneering programme that uses dogs to create a safe learning environment for Grade 3 learners who struggle with reading.
“We kicked off the programme at the Capricorn Primary School in February. We are starting to see results in the youngsters’ reading abilities and confidence. We visit the school twice a week,” said Marian.
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) programme works with children on an individual basis in a non-threatening environment. Dogs like Scud help to ease the discomfort that learners may feel while struggling to read, and the programme also encourages children to care for animals.
