LOAL participates in Children’s Day at the library

Commonwealth Journal

March 26, 2008 09:18 am

— Nine Love on a Leash therapy dogs participated in the March 20 Children’s Day during the opening week celebration of the new Pulaski County Public Library.
The group will resume monthly visits at the library on Saturday, April 26, at 11 a.m., at which time children may again pet and read to the dogs.
The R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog) program in Utah began the nationwide program of reading to therapy pets as a non-critical presence, fostering a love of reading and building of reading skills. Some schools and libraries have regular weekly reading programs which have proven to increase self-confidence, self-esteem and even reading levels.
The Somerset area does not have a weekly program at the present time, but several schools and two library locations (Nancy Public Library and the main library downtown) have monthly reading activities for children.
Visiting the Pulaski County Public Library this month were Speckles (rat terrier handled by Bob Walther), Robin (English cocker spaniel handled by Patty Janzen), Holly (Newfoundland handled by Ginny Lengel), Jeffie (border collie handled by Lacey Beckwith), Stitch (Bassett hound handled by Vicki Landell, who is the facility leader at the library), Cujo and Cuddles (Bichon Frises handled by Howard and Wanda Thompson), Xena (greyhound/collie handled by Ted Koester, who is leader at the Nancy Library) and Joey (American cocker spaniel handled by Gloria Sams).
LOAL member Charlotte Neeley, assisted by young Melissa Slate, painted paw prints or other spring designs on the faces of delighted children and stayed to paint every child’s face until the library closed. The group also presented a book set and blanket to the children’s department which children can check out to read to their own pets at home.
For more information about Love on a Leash visit their national Web site at:
www.loveonaleash.org
For more information about the local program contact chapter president Gloria Sams at 875-1442.
The Reading Education Assistance Dog program is a program of Inter-mountain Therapy Animals whose Web site is: www.therapyanimals.org

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