This family is bringing hope to dozens of children in need of therapy dogs. Find out how they're doing it!
It’s been three years since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, claimed the lives of six staff members and 20 children, including Charlotte Bacon, the 6-year old daughter of Joel and Joann and the little sister of Guy.
Following the shooting, therapy dogs were brought in from across the country to comfort students and teachers. Inspired by that, the Bacons founded Charlotte’s Litter with a mission of getting therapy dogs into schools to assist with emotional support and literacy.
The family also wrote two books. Joel and Joann Bacon collaborated with award-winning author Renata Bowers on Good Dogs, Great Listeners: The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter. And in young Guy’s book, The Dogs of Newtown, he profiled the 30 therapy dogs who visited right after the tragedy.
Through the work of Charlotte’s Litter and their books, the Bacons seek to offer hope and healing to others.
Dogster: Following the tragedy, therapy dogs helped Guy when it was time to return to school. How?
Joann: Guy is 13 now. When the tragedy happened, he was 10. When he first went back to school, it was very difficult. That soon turned around for him when the therapy dogs were brought in. The dogs really motivated and helped him reintegrate back into school.How did Charlotte’s Litter come about?
Joann: The [therapy dog] program needed to evolve from being a response to a tragedy to being used in a more applied way.Joel: Charlotte’s Litter has helped to introduce therapy dog programs in five school districts in Connecticut and New York.
You worked with award-winning author Renata Bowers on Good Dogs, Great Listeners: The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter. Tell us about that.
Joel: The book is about Charlotte, Lilly, and her litter of stuffed animal dogs. The stuffed animals in the book are actually based on Charlotte’s own litter of stuffed animals.Joann: The book is authentically Charlotte. For us, it was really important that we got that story right so people could get to know who Charlotte really was.
Tell us the story behind Guy’s book.
Joann: Guy mentioned that maybe he should write a book, and we asked him what he thought. He said it would be nice to write something about the therapy dogs at school. He went to school and started interviewing the dog owners. The information came through the interviews that he was conducting at school.It was sort of a type of therapy for him. In the end, he wanted it to be published, and that’s what we did.
Joel: By sharing Charlotte’s Litter and sharing Charlotte through the books, our hope is that we can help others and bring some comfort, especially those suffering from grief.
The Bacons' have created a touching mission of happiness and relief for all children having difficulties in schools. They really honored the loss of Charlotte with this amazing mission and their published books. Soon, children across America will be benefiting from therapy dogs with the help of the Bacons. Isn't that incredible and touching?!
To learn more about the Bacons and their therapy dog mission, visit Dogster.
