For the love of pets presentation held during library’s summer program

Emanuel County Farm Bureau sponsored a For the Love of Pets program at the Vann Community Center as part of Franklin Memorial Library's Summer Reading Program - Tails and Tales.
Shari Watt and Dana Nasworthy talked to the children and adults about caring for their pets, and had three very special guests. The group was introduced to three types of specially trained dogs: a working dog, a therapy dog, and a service dog. These special dogs are used to help people.
Detective Clay Young with the Swainsboro Police Department brought K-9 Maya. Maya is a working dog. She sniffs out drugs and searches for lost people.

Therapy dog Bailey was also introduced by his owner, Rita Williams. Williams told about how Bailey is used to help children with reading. He sits and listens to them read out loud which gives them more confidence. Bailey also goes and visits residents in nursing homes and hospitals. He brings comfort and joy to lots of people who are lonely and in need of something to love.
Joey Blackmon brought his service dog named Chaos. Blackmon is a veteran who served in the Afghanistan War. He suffers from PTS (Post Traumatic Stress). He explained to the audience how Chaos, better known as Miss K, can sense when he is starting to become stressed. By placing her paws on certain pressure points, she helps him to relax and calm down. She has been his companion dog for over seven years.
The Swainsboro Kiwanis Club provided grilled hot dogs with all the trimmings for lunch. Farm Bureau provided the buns, and Friends of the Library provided the drinks.
The Summer Reading Program continues throughout the month of July with weekly crafts for all ages. Readers have until July 27 to turn in reading logs and claim prizes. Grand prize drawings will take place at the library’s End of Summer Reading Program Party on July 29. Save the date!