She may look like she spends her life sitting like a princess on a silken cushion, but Saffron the Tibetan terrier is a pooch with therapeutic powers.

Already expert at bringing smiles to the elderly in residential homes, seven-year-old Saffron has embarked on a new chapter in her life as the first reading assistance dog in Wales.

With her owner, Sarah Ellis, of Templeton, Saffron is about to become the ideal reading companion for children in schools and libraries in Pembrokeshire and beyond, boosting their confidence, communication skills and fluency as they read aloud.

“Animals are ideal reading companions,” said Sarah, who is only the third person in the UK to qualify in the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (Read) programme, which is enormously popular in the USA.

“Not only do they help increase relaxation and lower blood pressure, but they do not judge, laugh or criticise, and allow children to proceed at their own pace.”

Saffron is a firm favourite with residents at Narberth’s Sunnybank Home, where she visits with Sarah, who is area co-ordinator for charity Pets As Therapy.

“Saffron is very quiet and placid, and loves attention and being stroked,” added Sarah.

“She has such a beautiful nature that I feel she was born to help people, and as this is the year of the assistance dog, it’s wonderful she is taking on this new role.”

Sarah, who runs Narberth-based picture framers and art publishers Kadinsky Art with her husband Dave, also has a Sheltie-cross Charlie, who has qualified as a Read dog.

She now hopes to enlist other book-friendly dogs and their owners to expand the free venture, which she has named Shaggy Dog Tales, and to gain sponsorship so that gifts of books bearing the reading dog’s pawtograph can be given to children taking part.

To find out more about the scheme, contact Sarah at Shaggydogtales@ virgin.net.