What the child who could not see saw in Coco

Every Friday for several years Coco the Love Dog visited with the children in the Child Development Center at Lighthouse International. Visually impaired children read to, played with and loved on their therapy dog.

The visits always started at the corner where the bus would let the children off. Teachers would greet each child and Coco would escort them to school.

Other children would be waiting in the lobby and everyone wanted to ride in the elevator with “their” dog. So it often took several trips up and down to finally arrive at school.

All the teachers and staff would come out to greet Coco and advise if there was anything special going on that day.

One day a new child came to Lighthouse with her mother. She was very shy and hid behind her mother’s legs when she heard Coco bark her greeting.

“That’s Coco. She is a poodle and she comes to school on Friday,” the teacher explained. “Don’t be afraid. She just likes to say hello to everyone.”

Week after week this one child would stay back when everyone else came forward to pet Coco. Some children showed her their books in Braille and put her little paw on the bumps.

Some children liked to hold her leash and walk with Coco up and down the long hallway.

Some children liked to feel her tail and ears and mouth and squealed with delight when Coco gave them sweet little kisses.

But this one little girl had none of it.

Until one day she accidentally bumped into Coco. Everyone held their breath hoping Coco would not bark and scare the little girl.

But Coco made a sound never heard before – a soft sound that was like the purr of a cat. Coco was just so happy this one child who never touched her had finally touched her, even if only by mistake.

Many weeks later, and after many weeks of petting and loving by this one child and this one dog, the teacher asked the little girl what Coco looked like.

“I see Coco in my mind and she is white because she is so soft and white things are soft and fluffy like cotton balls.”

So that very special day we all learned that Coco felt like cotton balls and a child’s mind can reach far beyond what the eyes can see.

If you enjoyed this story, you may wish to read:

The girl who never spoke, said Coco
http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9149-Las-Vegas-Therapy-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m11d17-The-girl-who-never-spoke-said-Coco

Meet Mackenzie
http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9149-Las-Vegas-Therapy-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m8d27-Meet-Mackenzie--therapy-pooch-spreading-joy-one-paw-at-a-time

One dog, one child: integrating animal assisted therapy into an overall care plan
http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9149-Las-Vegas-Therapy-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m6d15-One-dog-one-child-How-animal-assisted-therapy-can-be-integrated-into-an-overall-care-plan

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http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9149-Las-Vegas-Therapy-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m5d28-Lille-Lille-Lille-is-that-Lille-Meet-a-most-extraordinary-animal-assisted-therapy-dog

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Hospice visiting
http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9149-Las-Vegas-Therapy-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m5d9-One-familys-greatest-gift-to-their-mom-a-visit-with-a-hospice-dog

Visiting The Shade Tree
http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9149-Las-Vegas-Therapy-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m5d6-Saving-lives-one-lick-at-a-time--Coco-visits-The-Shade-Tree