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"Cirra" Glimmer's Spirit of Acadia, CGC, RN
CH Tip'N Chip's Spirit of Thorn Hill CDX RAE HOF HOF X Ch. Patorama Glimmer of Hope CGC - Canine Good Citizen Certificate, AKC
RN - Rally Novice Title - AKC PDX- Pack Dog Excellent- Dog Scouts TDI - Therapy Dog International DSA- Dog Scouts of America
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Cirra was born 12-10-04 and now lives on the coast of Maine. As a one year old, Cirra earned an AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate and AKC Rally Novice Title. During her second year, she completed her Therapy Dogs International certification with two different handlers and Cirra has earned three titles with the Dog Scouts of America: Dog Scout, Pack Dog and Pack Dog Excellent. Cirra is a founding Dog Scout of the first Dog Scouts of America Troop in Maine and plans on earning many badges! She continues to work toward the requirements for the three Versatility Titles with the Great Pyrenees Club of America. Her versatility activities include: public education, walk-a-thons, therapy dog visits, boating, hiking, backpacking, mountain climbing, agility and rally obedience. Cirra has a socialite personality and playful nature with a great joy and exuberance for life. She always manages to bring a smile to people's faces which makes her an excellent certified therapy dog. She is always ready for a new adventure: riding the Island Explorer Bus in Acadia National Park, enjoying a buggy ride in Amish country at the GPCA Nationals, Open Farm Day in Maine testing blueberry dog cookies, Halloween costume contests, carriage rides at Christmas by the Sea, outdoor dining at the Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park and Camp Buster for dogs in western Maine. Cirra's photographs have been winners in numerous contests and have been featured in newspapers, magazines, websites and television. With all the activities, Cirra is a wonderful ambassador for the Great Pyrenees breed! |
Since starting her troop last year in Maine, Robyn has built a very
active troop that is a great model for others, has made a huge impact
in her community and shared DSA's missions with many people.
Some of the things she has led her troop in doing are:
Starting a walk-a-thon program that anyone across the country can
participate in to raise funds for programs the troop is working on. She
also helped develop a certficate program for dog owners in her area
that complete a walk of a certain number of miles along the Carriage
Road Trail.
They have started a very nice reading program for kids in the local
schools and recently finished their year with by getting 1062 books
donated to their "Children Reading to Dogs" Program with a retail value
of $10,205. Her dog Cirra gave reward books to the seventy kids at
"her" school. In addition, they gave some books to the teachers and
librarian at the schools that they visited.
They were guests of honor at a room dedication in the childrens wing of the library.
Their Yard Sale in the beginning of June generated $1,719. They will be
using the funds to provide pet oxygen masks to the fire departments and
EMS folks in their county and contacting the media for coverage of
those presentations.
Robyn must have a knack for getting media to cover their events because
just about every event they do results in an article in the paper or TV
coverage :-) She posts all their troop meetings and activities in the
local community calendars (radio websites, Chamber of Commerce
websites, newspapers). This helps spread the word about DSA and
what it's all about.
Their troop gets lots of attention at non dog events as well, like the
Family Festival. The town closes down Main St and has vendors and
artists to encourage folks to shop in the downtown area two weeks
before Christmas. They set up a booth and did bite prevention with the
kids giving them paw print stickers. Last year her troop did the Fourth
of July Parade. A local dog store gave them $500.00 for parade float
supplies and they put their sign on the back of the float. Parade
floats are a lot of work!!! You should see photos of the awesome,
eye-catching float they did- complete with a full size canoe, fake camp
fire and tent!
Robyn registered the troop with the Presidential Volunteer Service
Awards. For 2008, the troop received the Group Silver Level Award (500
- 900 hours) and five troop members received Individual Bronze Level
Awards (100 - 249 hours)!
These are just some of the events and activities Robyn has helped her troop organize. She is a great motivator and troop leader and her troop is a model of activities for all to follow. She deserves this recognition for all the many hours she has put forth to promote DSA, positive training and community service.
Thank you Robyn!
Here's a recent article posted in the Bangor Daily News:
The 6-year-old dog named Cirra, Glimmer’s Spirit of Acadia, owned by Robyn Douglas and Denise Houseknecht of Bar Harbor, has received titles from the Great Pyrenees Club of America, Therapy Dogs International and the American Kennel Club.
The Animal Assisted Therapy and Activity title is awarded by the Great Pyrenees Club of America to dogs and handlers who are registered with a national therapy dog organization and have performed at least 200 volunteer therapy hours. Therapy Dogs International awards the Tail Waggin’ Tutors Achievement Award to dog and handler teams with 100 reading program visits. The AKC awards the Therapy Dog title to registered AKC dogs that are certified by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization and perform a minimum of 50 visits.
Cirra has visitied patients at local hospitals, helping to calm some who missed their own pets and inspiring others to get out of bed for a visit or walk farther.
She also stars in the Children Reading to Cirra Program, bringing with her to local libraries a bag of books with stories about Great Pyrenees, dogs and positive canine relationships. Cirra has helped young readers at the Somesville Library, Mount Desert Elementary School and Northeast Harbor Library. Children reading to dogs programs increase children’s reading skills and teach children how to interact safely around dogs and about responsible dog ownership.
In addition, the Great Pyrennes is a Downeast Dog Scout and has earned other honors for participating in such activities as public education, walk-a-thons, therapy dog visits, boating, hiking, backpacking, mountain climbing, agility and rally obedience.
