<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Sorry I’m late…more later…computer problems…no word count or spell check…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>When people retire, they pursue hobbies, travel, or volunteer. But what does a retired guide dog do at the end of her career? My yellow lab, Viviane, officially retired this year just short of her 12<sup>th</sup> birthday. She faithfully guided me for 10 years, earning the privilege of passing the harness on to my new guide, a 21-month-old male black lab named Bowser. <span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fortunately, Vivi is happy and healthy although she is decidedly done working as a guide dog. I remember the same feeling when I was ready to retire. As my career neared its end, I pre-planned activities to keep myself busy and pursue purposeful alternatives to the nine-to-five grind. I planted an herb garden, I signed up for singing lessons, I began freelance writing, and I volunteered with Guide Dogs for the Blind. But what to plan for Viviane’s golden years?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Viviane’s sweet temperament, impeccable behavior, and warm heart would make her an ideal canine volunteer, I thought. I discovered our local library uses certified therapy dogs to Encourage young people to practice their literacy skills. Although technically not a therapy dog, I convinced the library director that indeed Viviane was “over-qualified” for the job. My husband and I, on the other hand, had to complete a background check to ensure there were no skeletons in our closet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Viviane now proudly sports a blue bandana as a library volunteer. The Paws to Read program encourages children to <span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Practice reading aloud </span>in the company of a lovable dog like Viviane. <span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Children </span>often feel self-conscious reading in front of an adult or their peers, but they are motivated to share a story with a non-judgmental canine companion. The young readers Develop confidence and <span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>improve their fluency, while Vivi has a new purpose and enjoys lots of belly rubs</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal># # #<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>