Tango - service dog #3

More pictures in the Photo Album

A little yellow Labrador when he joined us at age 10 weeks, Tango was the easiest pup to raise thus far. His mellow, easy-going temperament has only gotten better as he matures. The most promising service puppy turned out to have a bum shoulder. What was very bad news for the service dog organization meant that Laurie could keep the dog who captured her heart. (It's a good thing - she wasn't quite sure how she'd ever let him go back to the agency!).

He delights in all the attention Laurie can give him and loves playing with his housemate Lily, the other released service dog. Where Lily was thrilled to be able to stay home, Tango had a rough adjustment to his career change. It is still tough for Laurie to leave in the morning without him as he looks at her hopefully - his eyes asking if he can go as well.

Delta Certified as a Pet Partner Team, Laurie and Tango can now become involved in animal assisted therapy (AAT) in hospitals, schools, and other settings. They are most excited to begin working with children in the R.E.A.D. program. The mission of the R.E.A.D.® program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals  who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.

Laurie and Tango were made for one another and enjoy spending as much time together as possible. Sometimes they'll just head out for a drive or curl up and take a nap together.

Tango, loving life and doing what he loves - retrieving!

Tango - August 2006

Laurie and Tango enjoying the C + O Canal (2005)

On the prowl as a young pup, Tango enjoys the outdoors.