Community Corner
Children Read to Therapy Dogs at Mamaroneck Library
The Paws a While to Read event was organized and run by Reference Librarian Lori Friedli.
Usually, dogs aren't allowed in libraries, but the Mamaroneck Public Library made an exception Sunday to help kids read.
Reference Librarian Lori Friedli brought her Bernese Mountain Dogs Charly, Nettie and Olivia to the library for a Paws a While to Read event for children and their families.
Charly, Nettie and Olivia are registered CGC/TDI (Canine Good Citizen/Therapy Dog International) Therapy Dogs.
“The Bernese Mountain Dogs have been reading with the children since they were 1 year old,” she said.
Families met in the children’s section of the library where they were able to meet the three therapy dogs.
Friedli started the program off by reading story books about the dogs. She encouraged the children to participate in reading the stories aloud with her.
Caregivers sat with their kids and assisted them with reading the books aloud.
Most of the children were under the age of 6, so it took a while for them to get comfortable with the rather sizable dogs.
However, Friedli made the children feel safe by motivating them to interact with the dogs. She explained to all the young children that the pooches were friendly and very loving.
After reading a few books, Friedli gave all of the children a special stamp on their hand for helping her read with Charly, Nettie and Olivia.
Not only did the young children read various story books about the dogs, but they also learned what it means to be a therapy dog.
“Therapy dogs wear tags and scarfs and they also have a special ID,” Friedli said. “Coming to be a therapy dog is an interesting process, the dogs have to take a test to become well trained and they have to learn to be gentle and not scared around people.”
Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI) is a volunteer group that provides qualified handlers and their Therapy Dogs for visitation in several different facilities and settings.
After becoming comfortable with the dogs, the children's confidence in reading grew. The therapy dogs gave the children the encouragement they needed to read aloud.
Friedli said the Paws a While to Read event will be taking place once a month at the library.
