Library reading goes to the dogs
Max is an enthusiastic and curious listener.
He doesn’t judge and he doesn’t criticize. His only request is the occasional scratch behind his ears.
The two-year-old Havanese is a member of Therapy Tails, a nonprofit agency fuelled by volunteers and their four-legged friends.
A team from the group visit both the Victoria Avenue and Community Centre branches of Niagara Falls Public Library twice a month and children are encouraged to read to the dogs.
At the downtown branch on Saturday, Max sat patiently as Gabriel Easton, 9, and Regan Willis, 8, read aloud to him.
“I love dogs,” Gabriel said as Max sat nearby.
Andrea Richardson, community development and programming associate at the Victoria Avenue library, said kids look forward to visits by the canine menagerie.
“Dogs are great listeners and they increase a child’s confidence in reading.”
While some kids read to the dogs, others were content with offering hugs and head scratches to their new furry companions.
Max was joined by several fellow Therapy Tails pals, including three-year-old River, a golden retriever owned by Lacey
Sauder.
“River loves coming here,” she said. “She loves going anywhere really. Whenever I put my green Therapy Tails shirt on she knows she’s going out and runs to the door wagging her tail.”
Volunteers at Therapy Tails also visit retirement homes, local schools and various outreach programs.
There are about 160 teams of individuals with various breeds of dogs in the program.