March 29, 2024
Local News | Putnam County Record


Local News

Reading dogs make impact at LaSalle Public Library

LASALLE – Since 2004, a unique program combining two-legged and four-legged friends has been held every month at the LaSalle Public Library. "Tail-Waggers" is a combination of trained therapy dogs, children and the joys of reading.

Youth Librarian Director Donna Bloomquist of McNabb was the originator of the program at the library.

"What makes Tail-Waggers so popular? Dogs. Lots of Americans are attracted to pets and to dogs ... They are the perennial icebreakers — complete strangers smile at each other when one or both have dogs. Kids pick up on this attraction," Bloomquist said.

The program is simple. Trained, certified therapy dogs attend a reading session with their trainer. A child picks out a book and then reads to the dog. Dogs are not judgmental. They don't make fun if a child mispronounces a word. Children who are too young to read can have the dog trainer or a parent read with them as they look at the pictures and share time with the therapy dog.

"A lifelong love of reading goes hand in hand with a life of learning. Kids who are confident readers not only excel in their school work, but are more willing to investigate new topics and explore the world through reading," Bloomquist said.

Over the years the library has worked with nine trainer/dog teams. Currently three teams come to the library. Nancy Fryxell brings Ellianna or "Elli," a Tibetan Terrier, and Vasha, a Skye terrier who recently retired. Pam Booras brings Tillie and Gus, who are both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The third pair includes Theresa Jones and her dog Charlie, a flat coated retriever. Each dog goes through training, according to Booras.

"In order for a dog to be registered as a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Inc. ... they have to have basic obedience, be friendly with all ages of humans, be comfortable working in different places and different situations," Booras said. "Therapy Dogs Inc. tests a dog in basic obedience and then has three separate testings in a place therapy dogs are likely to be used in order to assess the dog's and handler's abilities."

"Handler and dog communication is very important," Jones said. "How a dog is with you and others is key. Charlie is the mellowest dog I've ever had."

It is a rewarding experience for both dogs and handlers, according to Jones.

"They (the children) are all so happy to see the dog. They are so non judging," Jones said.

Sometimes the dog can help a child connect with the love of reading. Fryxell has one experience which has really stayed with her.

"We started going to a preschool ... We visited a classroom with children with learning disabilities. I didn't know anything about learning difficulties," Fryxell said.

The teacher told her to take the dog around and let the students pet it. She warned her some kids might not interact with the dog. There was a little boy who was unresponsive to them.

"I got to him and picked Elli up as he was in a wheelchair and asked him if he could say dog. Then he said the word dog," Fryxell said. "I looked up and the teacher had tears rolling down her face. She said to me, 'He hasn't ever spoken.' I said to her, 'You mean he hasn't spoken in school?' 'No, he doesn't talk even at home,' the teacher said."

Bloomquist summed up the decade-long program.

"The reading dog teams have touched the lives of many children and adults too. I am confident that Tail-Waggers has positively impacted youth literacy ... at the LaSalle Public Library," she said.