Beautiful white Samoyed Daisy with her characteristic smiling expression and fluffy coat
2 photos of Daisy
Daisy
Handler: Robert Kim
A fluffy Samoyed with a permanent smile. Daisy's cheerful demeanor brightens every reading session.
Daisy's Story
Daisy is known throughout the program for her legendary 'Sammy smile'—that characteristic upturned mouth that makes Samoyeds look perpetually happy. Handler Robert Kim, a pediatric nurse, adopted Daisy specifically for therapy work after seeing how patients responded to visiting therapy dogs. Daisy passed every certification test with exceptional scores, particularly in the 'unexpected situations' category—nothing seems to ruffle her magnificent white fluff. She has a particular gift for working with children who are learning English as a second language; her smiling face requires no translation. At 4 years old, Daisy has become an ambassador for the program, often appearing at community events where her photogenic nature draws families to learn more about Paws & Pages.
A Heart-Warming Moment
Eight-year-old Yuki had moved from Japan just six months earlier and was still struggling with English. She was an excellent reader in Japanese but felt embarrassed by her accented English reading. Her first session with Daisy, Yuki barely whispered. But Daisy, with her perpetual smile, gave Yuki the audience she needed: one who clearly didn't judge pronunciation. 'Daisy smile no matter what,' Yuki observed. 'She think all reading is good reading.' This became Yuki's motto. Over the following months, her voice grew stronger. She started bringing books that mixed English and Japanese words, reading both to Daisy with equal confidence. By year's end, Yuki was volunteering to read aloud in class. 'Daisy taught me,' she explained to her teacher. 'Reading is reading. Accent is just... special flavor.'
Ready to meet Daisy?
Daisy and Robert Kim are available for reading sessions at participating libraries. Sign up today to experience the magic of reading with a furry friend!
Questions About Our Program?
We'd love to tell you more about how our therapy dogs help children become confident readers.