Dogs are a Hit at the Oakdale Library

It’s not often that we see dogs in a library—but at Washington County’s , you just might! Area kids can sign up for Doggone Reading at our local library on Monday and Tuesday evenings, where they can read aloud to a specially trained therapy dog.  I recently sat in on a session with Dovey, a beautiful, friendly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and her owner, Tony Shostak.  To participate in this program Dovey and Tony became certified through the Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org) as a therapy dog pair. 

Lovey and Tony are part of a rotating schedule with four other therapy dogs and their owners at the Oakdale library. The pair also visits area nursing homes, and when they go to Arizona for the winter, they participate in a reading program at a local library there. 

Peggy Moore, the librarian in charge of the Doggone Reading program introduced it to Oakdale about a year ago. Beginning with a rotation of two dogs and owners, she soon found demand so high that she needed to double the capacity.  Even now, the slots fill quickly in this popular program. Four kids each evening can register, and they read in 15-minute increments. 

There are myriad ways that kids can benefit from this program. Some find it easier to read out loud here than in the classroom; some have discovered a fun way to practice learning English; and others come for the opportunity to hang out with the dogs, particularly if they can’t have one at home. On the flip side, it can also help kids who aren’t comfortable around dogs, due to the quiet, non-threatening environment.   

I chatted briefly with Itzel, a first-grader who participated the evening I was there. Itzel’s mom told me she would come every week if she could. She is an avid reader and dog lover that enjoys visiting with the different dogs. As she is also bilingual, Itzel makes sure to pick out one book in each of her languages to read. And because she is reading to an animal, she usually chooses to bring books about other animals to read. Itzel is a great example of the way this program promotes kids’ learning, and expands their thinking in some very unique ways! 

The Doggone Reading program is open to kids in kindergarten through seven. The majority of participants are in the lower elementary grades, but there are some older and some younger participants as well, and all are welcome.  For more information: http://www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/library/hours_and_locations/oakdale_branch/