Although the temperatures have been chilly this winter, Silent Sidekicks has been working to warm the hearts of people in the community through positive experiences with animals. Silent Sidekicks is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides information and education about animal-assisted therapy through the service of trained volunteer handler-animal teams. Silent Sidekicks serves communities throughout the state, as well as in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick.
You may have seen Silent Sidekicks’ Therapy Dog, Morgan, a lovable one-year old Golden Retriever at the Cary Library greeting patrons or quietly listening to children read to her during the “Reader of the Pack” program. During this program, children read to Morgan to help improve their reading skills in a fun and nonjudgmental atmosphere. This program is held once a month. If you would like to sign a child up for one of our next reading sessions on March 27 from 5:30-7 p.m., please call the Cary Library at 532-1302 to register.
Silent Sidekicks also offers a visiting program to hospitals, health care facilities and schools. In these programs, Silent Sidekick Teams visit people to brighten their days. Over the last year, Morgan and her partner and Silent Sidekicks’ Founder, Danielle Ireland McGuckin, have enjoyed visiting the patients and staff at the Houlton Regional Hospital and Gardiner Health Care Facility, as well as students at local schools and after school programs.
Morgan isn’t the only therapy dog that visits in the Houlton Area. Linneus’s own, Emma and partner, Darlene Kenney, became Silent Sidekicks second team in the state.
Emma is a two-and-a-half-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix whose puppyhood in Tennessee included being locked in a hot car, being rescued in the nick of time by police only to be put into a local animal shelter that does not keep dogs long, especially ‘pit bull types’, due to lack of kennel space.
She was rescued, again in the nick of time, by a volunteer of the Clarksville Humane Society who could not pass up her adorable face. And it’s that face, posted on Facebook, which caught the attention and heart of Darlene Kenney, along with husband Pete, was on the road the following day to go adopt her! From the beginning, Emma showed herself to be a people dog, especially the older generation, loving to be petted and paid attention to. Her demeanor proved perfect for meeting strangers and winning their hearts, bringing them joy and making them smile. About a month and a half after coming home and being prepped, Emma made her inaugural visit to Gardiner Health Care Facility in May 30,, 2013 and has been a regular weekly visitor since.
Silent Sidekicks does not charge for its services and is funded entirely through the generosity of donors, grant monies, and proceeds from fundraising events. For more information about Silent Sidekicks, visit the website at www.silentsidekicks.org or on Facebook at www.facebook. com/silentsidekicks.
