The Children's Room Welcomed a Caring Therapy Dog To Play With Special Needs Children.

The Larchmont Public Library hosted Daisy, a therapy dog, to help young children with special needs socialize, relax and feel the love of Man’s Best Friend on May 3.

Daisy’s owner, Karen Mindich, is a first timer at the library, but she is just as experienced as her pooch at talking to children and helping them socialize.

“I’ve just started with this program,” Mindich said. “I’ve worked at assisted living places through Therapy Dog international. We also just started working at a school in Greenwich.”

The Daisy-Mindich team had many of their own reasons for helping others who need attention. They both loved seeing the faces of children light up.

“First of all I’m a dog lover,” Mindich said. “I love children, it’s just amazing how people respond to the dog. Particularly when I go into the assisted living and they’re kind of depressed. Daisy comes in and they all start to sing ‘Daisy, Daisy.’ It’s really sweet and extremely rewarding.”

The parents and the children responded to Daisy by swarming around her while she tackled doggy puzzles for treats. She also is well versed in a variety of tricks like playing dead and laying down.

Daisy was calm and shook paws with the children while she allowed them to pet her fluffy exterior. During a group reading session where one of the children read a book about dogs to the rest, Daisy went around and made friends with everyone.

The parents were talking about getting a dog like Daisy for their children after seeing how positively they responded to her.

“We’re thinking about getting a dog,” a parent Mark Shearon said. “We want one that is more of a therapy dog. I’m happy to have events like this in the neighborhood, events like this are very important.”

Both of Shearon’s children couldn’t get enough of Daisy and both said they had tons of fun.

Mindich encouraged everyone to get a dog and experience companionship like Mindich does. Daisy is a dog that shares many qualities of the flower she is named after, soft and while on the outside, with a bright center.

“Petting a dog lowers your blood pressure. Make sure you spell Daisy with a little heart over the I.” Mindich added.

Captions for Photos:

1. Mindich introducing Daisy
2. Children coming to pet Daisy
3. Daisy rewarded for doing tricks
4. Daisy solving a doggy puzzle
5. Daisy resting with Mindich after playing