Alias:  Macie Moose or Goober Girl
Date of Birth:  August 6th, 2000
Sex:   Female
Breed:  Mastiff
Color:  Brindle w/black mask
Owner:  Linda Irish
Breeder:  Linda Irish
Favorite Food:  Carrots, apples, cheese, hot dogs, and, of course, a good juicy bone!
Favorite Pastimes:  Snuggling up to a child and blissfully dozing while listening to them read

There are some beings-both human and otherwise-that, when you look into their gentle eyes, you have a distinct sense that you are peering into the eyes of an Old Soul…a wisdom or knowingness beyond your own…a connection with something greater than ourselves. That is the way with Macie.

When Macie was about six months old, I would take her to school with me on a regular basis. After awhile, I noticed that she had an uncanny way of reaching out to the most needy of my at-risk students. Her presence and persistent, playful attention had a way of opening doors for these troubled kids. What I was observing was both heartwarming and exciting.

At about this same time, there was a terrible incident in San Francisco where a young woman was attacked and killed in her apartment building by two presa canario dogs-one of which slightly resembled my Macie. Because of this, my principal told me I could no longer bring Macie to school. It was too great of a liability.

Knowing how distraught I was over this, a fellow mastiff friend suggested I research Delta Society. After learning more about Delta, I decided to pursue therapy work with Macie. Shortly after starting the process, I discovered a wonderful program in Salt Lake City called R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). And that was the conception of Reading Rovers in Spokane. Macie is the original Reading Rover. So, thanks to Macie (and all the other wonderful four-legged angels that have become Reading Rovers since then), over 50 at-risk children, so far, have been mentored by Reading Rovers and their two-legged partners.