RUTH COLE-HAGAN

While the story of RESPET is not about me, a resume might help others understand how it got here. I taught special education & reading for 31 years. Quite often I individualized lessons for my "special" students in nontraditional ways. One nontraditional approach included a furry "lab assistant" named Rosie, my first therapy dog. Reportedly she was the first & quite possibly only therapy dog working full time in a classroom in the Reno-Sparks area. My principal made an exception for her, it was magic & resulted in "Teacher of the Year for Special Education in 2004", I believe due to her help.
"MOM" DIXIE WINDI
19??- 2007- 2017 - |
DIXIE
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After retirement in 2004, I volunteered at large facilities, but I continued to be most moved by the needs of individuals, choosing to have a relationship with them, to call them by name. From our first home visit with a Hospice patient, a one on one summer class with a traumatic brain injured teen, to Janice at Monaco Ridge, my dogs & I fit those visits into our already busy schedules. The memories of Gus singing with a veteran at the VA and reading to 3yr olds for 15 minutes had the biggest impact on me. RESPET puts a name on that service & provides an opportunity for those of like minds to gather in friendship & experience the same big impact while meeting small needs.
With a renewed purpose, I've returned to evaluating & practicing pet therapy while adding training and consulting. When not out making the world a better place with wagging tails, I quilt & travel with my fly fisherman, Ron, a little wienie dog & a lab pup, who keeps me humble as I train her to take over Dixie's therapy work. |
Volunteering:
Order of Eastern Star - 50 yr member Pet Therapy - (16 yrs) Paws4Passengers P4L - Paws2Read, Crisis Response, Justice Dogs Reno Rodeo - (14 yrs) Rodeo Pet Therapy Dogs Special Kids Rodeo & Kids Day LifeCare Center (12 yrs) Renown (6 yrs) VA Hospital (6 yrs) St Mary's Hospital (2 yrs) Reno Air Races - (4 years) Kid's Kottage (2 yrs) Education: B/S Southern Illinois University (Elementary Education) GRAD Texas A & M University (Language & Learning Disabilities) M/ED University of VA (Reading) GRAD University of WI (Special Education) UN-R (Special Education/Reading) |
GUS
2004-2017 |

ROSIE
1998-2012
1998-2012