
Pippen paws out with grant
HE MAY have been a Guide Dog drop out, but Pippen the Golden Retriever is a Story Dog star.
Now, thanks to a Murwillumbah-based recruitment and training provider, Pippen will expand his reading companion services from the Tweed to a further 30 primary schools at Lismore and the Gold Coast.
Story Dogs, a non-profit organisation offering companion animals to help children with reading, has been the beneficiary of a $15,000 grant from the Enterprise and Training Company (ETC).
Receiving the donation last week at ETC’s Murwillumbah Brisbane St office, Pippen, with his cuddly fur coat, left board director Ian Preston sure the canine held special powers to help children to read.
“ETC is very proud to be part of this initiative,” Mr Preston said.
Pippen’s owner Janine Sigley said when children sat with the dog their shyness reduced.
“The magic is between the dog and the child when they sit together to read,” Ms Sigley said. “Their reading mat is a loving, non-intimidating or judgemental, environment.”