About the documentary
"Citizen
Canine" is a documentary which attempts to show what happen when
children's education literally goes to the dogs: therapy dogs trained and certified to help young children improve their literacy skills.
"Citizen
Canine" focuses on three educators closely involved with
Ruff Reading Program, which is headed by H.A.B.I.T. director,
Karen Armsey. She is responsible for certifying the dogs and working
with the schools and volunteers to ensure that the children receive
the maximum benefits RUFF Reading can offer. Becky Connelly is one of
many volunteers, and she and her dog, Luke, come once a week to First
Lutheran School to read with the students in the kindergarten class.
Also at First Lutheran School, is Kay Irwin, a first grade teacher,
but also the proud owner of several certified H.A.B.I.T. dogs. Mrs.
Irwin brings one of these dogs to school almost everyday creating an
atmosphere in her first grade classroom like no other. These teachers
come together to help make the world a better place by helping one student
at a time.
About the creator, Jess Irwin
I
am an English major at UT, but long before I started college,
I was involved with dogs. Whether at home or in the show ring, much of
my time was spent with these amazing creatures. My
mother, who taught me to love dogs and see the great effect they had
on people, is an elementary school teacher, and she would occasionally
bring one of our dogs into her classroom.
Then shortly after we moved to Tennessee we heard about the H.A.B.I.T
(Human Animal Bond in Tennessee) program, which was just beginning
to introduce dogs into schools. As part of
H.A.B.I.T., the Ruff Reading Program allowed my mother to bring her dogs into her classroom. for as long as
she wanted, whenever she wanted. This is how and why "Citizen
Canine" came so naturally to me, I have witnessed first hand the
Ruff Reading Program's benefits and want to share its ideas with as
many people as possible.
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