Monday, June 23, 2014

Furry Friend Works in Court

A new, furry employee is working in an Ohio court. Camry is a facility dog walking the halls in Marion County Family Court. He’s been with the court for a month but only since last week has he been in an actual courtroom. Camry helps defuse stress for children and even adults when they come to court.

Camry is the first of his kind as he was placed with a courthouse. Typically facility dogs who work in a courtroom setting are placed with a prosecutor’s office or with a victim advocacy group. There are currently 60 facility dogs nationwide in 32 states. Three of those dogs are in Ohio. Joining Camry is Avery with the Summit County prosecutor’s office and Nanook with Michael’s House in Greene County.

Any four-legged friend that helps children in the courtroom receives a blue-ribbon from me – especially one who knows 40 commands.
Click below to watch Camry’s story.


Sunday, June 8, 2014

Happiest day of my Life (Essay)



There are many days in life that bring joy and pleasure but some days are the happiest and remain in our mind forever. These days are the reminders of the amazing time we have spent. The happiest day of my life is a visit to an orphanage. The happiness I felt that day is no match with any other day of my life.

My friend likes to help others and she often likes to arrange visits to different orphanages. On one of her visit, she invited us all. As I was free that day, I have decided to go. First, I wasn’t excited at all. It didn’t know what I will do when I will reach there. It was in the plan to reach the place at 2 p.m. I went before time and started to wait for others.

There was a magic show arrangement for the children and magician was arranging his things. In the waiting area, I saw children watching where I was sitting. Then they called me inside with the other people I was sitting with. When I was with them, they started to ask so many questions that where I was from and why I am visiting them when I don’t know them? Their questions struck my mind.

When all the arrangements were completed in the hall, the children were asked to go in that area. They divided into groups and selected the person they liked most; they grabbed our hands and took us out. They sit with us and enjoyed the show while talking to us in the way that we are their old friends. They all were very beautiful and just our presence meant a lot to them.

After the show, we played different games and enjoyed different activities. We distributed gifts and sweets, painted their faces with cute butterflies and flowers, applied mehndi on girls’ hands, and eat with them. When it was leaving time, all the children had tears in their eyes and they were taking promise from each one of us that we will visit them often. With the promise of meeting again we left the place.

After my first meeting with these children, one thought hit my mind that they were thinking we had made their day but in the reality they have provided us the way to remain happy forever. I found that true happiness can only be enjoyed when you make others happy and specially those who don’t have anyone to call their own!