“Books and Barks” will be featured at Bridgeport Public Library 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. Special guests will be an Italian greyhound, Labrador mix and standard poodle, all which will delight in hearing area children read.
“These reading programs are designed to help children with reading and self-esteem issues,” said Barbara Higgins, coordinator for Mountaineer Therapy Dogs. “Some kids have a difficult time learning to read and are worried about reading in front of their peers for fear of being laughed at or they are not confident or secure. That’s an issue that can be very difficult all the way around.”
The Mountaineer Therapy Dogs serve as non-judgmental reading buddies.
“If the kids are nervous or stumble over a word, the dogs are there to be with them and listen to them,” Higgins said. “They love hearing the sound of the children’s voices and they are not going to judge them at all – just love on them.”
Each dog will be accompanied by his or her handler, such as Higgins, who owns a trained, tested certified poodle named Nina.
“The handlers take their cues from the kids – and each one is different,” Higgins said. “More often than not, we don’t have any interaction between the child and the dog unless the child wants help with a word. Typically, we don’t interfere.”
All children, ages 4 through 12, are invited to come, enjoy the books and the company of the dogs. Interested parents can register their children for a 15-minute time slot. During that time, the child will select a book from the library or can bring their own from home.
“It’s interesting to watch how every kid interacts with the dogs,” Higgins said. “Sometimes we’ll see a child reading a book and get to a word they aren’t sure how to pronounce and they will reach over and pet the dog, giving him or her a little security boost and they will attempt the word.”
Higgins and her former therapy dog, a miniature poodle named Brenda Lee, were among original therapy dog teams at MTD.
“We’ve heard everything from Berenstain Bears and Clifford the Big Red Dog to Star Wars, Dr. Seuss and Pinkalicious,” she said.
In addition to visiting libraries, MTD travels to schools, parks, nursing home facilities, hospitals and outreach events to help with destressing.
“The dogs help people feel better,” Higgins said. “In a medical setting, a person interacts with one of the dogs and forgets about their problems. It’s 10 to 15 minutes when their pain goes down and their mood goes up.”
Among members of MTD is Bridgeport’s Rebecca Conrad, who owns two therapy dogs, Sophie and Sparkle, both Italian greyhounds.
“Books and Barks” has been part of the library's children's programs for several years. Beginning in October, the program will run 1:30-2:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month.
To make an appointment for your child to read, call Amy Eakle at 304-842-8248.
All Mountaineer Therapy Dogs are tested and certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Dog owners wishing to join the service organization can call 304-368-8946.
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