A purr-fect time to celebrate therapy cat book signings
After working in the rescue and shelter community for many years, Sally Cragin found a group of people interested in therapy pet work, and that is where her story of Be PAWSitive began, and it continues to thrive today.
“One of our members said we always needed to be positive,” Cragin said. “Whether we were rescuing a sick animal, working with a shelter, or bringing therapy pets to folks in need, and that is where the name came from, and the rest is history.”
Cragin, director of the Be PAWSitive program and a published author, has since partnered with artist Kathryn Swantee and together they have created the world’s first book on how individuals can help develop their cat into a registered therapy pet with Be PAWSitive Therapy Pets.
To celebrate this achievement, a book signing party for “The Therapy Cat Book – How Your Cat Can Become a Purr-fect Therapy Pet” will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Concepts Art Studio, 285 Central St., Leominster, presented by Swan Hope Press.
Light refreshments will be served and, as a special treat, Spencercat, the star of the book, will be on-hand to visit with guests.
“Our therapy pet organization has been working with people with wonderful pets for nearly 10 years,” Cragin said. “We found
that the details and training that worked for dogs could be adapted for cats — and using different techniques would be successful.”
Therapy cats from Be PAWSitive are regular visitors at Fitchburg Public Schools, the Fitchburg Public Library and other area libraries, residential care facilities, the LeominsterFitchburg Boys & Girls Club and other after-school programs.
“We have found that cats can be very calming for young readers,” Cragin said. “We have worked in classrooms for students with social/emotional needs for many years and find that children who are on the autism spectrum can also connect with cats, as they are relatively small, always calm, and move slowly, which is helpful for children.”
Swantee, a cat owner also, created the images for the book from visiting therapy cat sessions in schools and other settings.
“Cats are fascinating to draw,” she explained. “It was a great challenge to capture the expressions on their faces, the texture of their fur, and the pleasure that everyone receives by visiting with them.”
Cragin said this book has been much more “handson” than the writing she does for Llewellyn Worldwide.
“Kathy and I went over literally every whisker of this book together,” Cragin said. “She and I collaborated in 2019, for ‘The Amazing Adventures of C.C. Sewercam.’ When I later saw her watercolors and other visual art — especially her cat portraits — I knew we needed to do a therapy cat book together.”
As things turned out, Cragin and Swantee have also started a local micropress with a wide portfolio of interests.
“I couldn’t have found a better person to partner with,” Swantee said. “We have made a long-term commitment to each other to continue producing books through Swan Hope Press. Even if we weren’t working together, I would want her as a friend. She is so professional and such a skilled writer. We share a lot of the same interests, enjoy each other’s company and appreciate and respect each other.”
Cragin believes that therapy pets are important to the community, and more especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the last 18 months, the lockdown conditions of the pandemic have been particularly difficult for children, the special needs population and elderly folks,” Cragin said. “We were grateful to return to the classroom last spring. Kids were so glad to be in school, but their behaviors were such that you’d see in September — not at the end of the year. Giving our young readers time with therapy pets helped their reading comprehension, fluency and interest.”
Nicole Irvin, children’s librarian at the Fitchburg Public Library, also sees the importance in therapy pets.
“The Be PAWSitive pet team brings a lot of value to the library,” Irvin said. “Children who are hesitant or shy about their reading abilities feel more at ease when reading to one of the pets. Therapy pets have developed quite a following and attract an average of 50 to 60 folks to their program. A lot of our young patrons have grown very attached to the pets and look forward to seeing them every month.”
Both Swantee and Cragin are excited to announce other signing parties that are planned for the next coming weeks.
Visit Cragin and Swantee from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at Preppy Pet Suites, 147 John Fitch Highway, and learn more about their book and how you can arrange for a pet portrait, created by Swantee. Proceeds from book sales will benefit Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue.
Another book signing party will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16, at Smokestack Roasters, 37 Mass. Ave., Lunenburg.