Throughout the day on Wednesday, May 13, Hawley Elementary School students were visited by therapy dogs, handlers, and representatives of Charlotte’s Litter.

Charlotte’s Litter is a Newtown Kindness program that was founded by her parents to honor Charlotte Helen Bacon, who loved dogs and lost her life on 12/14, and the support that her family and friends received from local comfort and therapy dogs.

As Newtown Kindness Program Support Director Ken Murdoch visited Hawley kindergarten teacher Donna Albano’s classroom, where therapy dog Ringo and his handler Pat Tetrault were visiting, he noted it was an exciting day with one of the program’s three main efforts “concept coming to fruition.”

Ms Albano, who is also the Newtown Kindness Education Director, read to her students from Good Dogs, Great Listeners, The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter.

As Ms Albano read from the book, her kindergarteners cuddled up with Ringo, who moved between the students, laying his head near one or allowing another to pet him.

After Ms Albano finished reading Good Dogs, Great Listeners, The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter, students took turns reading to Ringo from books they chose.

Charlotte’s Litter, according to Newtown Kindness, connects resources and experienced people where they are needed, and provides input and guidance to parents and educators in an effort to apply appropriate therapy dog programs in educational and societal settings.

Newtown Kindness is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was founded in an effort to encourage, facilitate, and recognize the value of kindness, according to the organization. Its mission is to promote kindness as a guiding principle of humanity, according to Newtown Kindness.

A total of eight teams of therapy dogs and their handlers visited Hawley on May 13, making their way to different classrooms and meeting with the students and staff. According to Mr Murdoch, the event was the first official visit made to a Newtown school by Charlotte’s Litter with the reading component added to the therapy dogs’ visit.

More information about Charlotte’s Litter is available at charlotteslitter.org.