Paws To Read

As she comes into the special library room, Melyssa, a 3rd grader, is told that today she will read to Trevin. The dog is waiting for her with his handler/owner, Carol. He is one of the 3 canines present that day at the Orinda library to participate in “Paws to read”, a program where elementary school age children come to read to dogs.

The program has been running in Orinda for 3 years. “It was started in Salt Lake City many years ago,” says Lin Look the librarian in charge of children’s activities, “I heard about it at a conference and was immediately convinced of its value.” Research shows that kids who are learning to read can become nervous about looking dumb around their friends. But with a dog, they start to relax and reading becomes easier. Moraga librarian Linda Waldrup where the program is starting this August summarizes, “children enjoys reading to non-judgmental canines." “Dogs are not critical,” says Melyssa’s mother, “they take the children for who they are.” Paws to Read attracts children from the entire spectrum of reading levels. Martha, a 4th grader who was there that morning in Orinda, is a very avid reader, having completed 3 times the library summer program for her age. During the session she read 3 books to her dog. “She takes any opportunity to read,” says her mother. The little girl commented, “I love to read to dogs, you can see they really understand what you read.” Carol has a dog of her own in her house but it is not the case for every child who comes to paws to read.

The dogs involved in the program are family pets of many different breeds, and their owners who volunteer their time have been certified in pet therapy. In addition to reading improvement, “Paws” shows kids how to relate to dogs as pets. “Children are sometimes unsure,” says handler Ginger Wadsworth, “and within a few minutes of petting the dog they come closer and start reading.” This is why Look removed some of the restrictions other libraries have put on the program, she will allow kids with minor allergies to come to the program, as well as kids who are not used to interacting with pets and might be a bit nervous at first.

Wadsworth is on the Friends Orinda Library board, and has 2 trained therapy dogs with ARF. She comes to “Paws” with her golden retriever – Willa – who is so excited about going to see kids. She’s a big supporter of the program, and the Friends of the library have donated books, pillows, doggy treats, water for the handler, and little certificates. “It is still a lot of work for the librarian,” recognizes Wadsworth, “and Lin has done a fantastic job.”

Waldrup confirmed that all the dogs in her program are certified therapy dogs as well. Most of the people who bring their dogs do other things with them, like going to hospitals and convalescent homes. There are therapy cats too and both Look and Waldrup would like to find some of these for their programs. They both want to connect with the local schools and reading specialists. The program is over for the summer in Orinda and will start again in the fall. It is running in August in Moraga, where after an evaluation it will probably come back in the fall.