Read to the Dogs

Participating Libraries | Dog Tales

Would your child like a patient, attentive friend to read to? Read to the Dogs provides an opportunity for your child to read to registered therapy dogs in a relaxed atmosphere. The dogs sit calmly and quietly for a story. Children can practice reading out loud without fear of judgement. It's a great way for children to gain confidence in their reading.

Please register in advance. Reading sessions will be first come, first served.

 

Participating Libraries

• Cherry Hills Library, 857-8321 (Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers)
  1st and 3rd Saturdays, 1-3 PM

• East Mountain Library, 281-8508 (Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers)
  2nd Saturday, 1-3 PM

• Juan Tabo Library, 291-6260 (Therapy Dogs, Inc)
  4th Saturday, 1-3 PM

• Lomas Tramway Library, 291-6295 (Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers)
  3rd Saturday, 1-3 PM

• Los Griegos Library, 761-4020 (Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers)
  3rd Thursday, 3-4:30 PM

 

• Main Library , 768-5136 (Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers)
  2nd Saturday, 1-3 PM

• Wyoming/Hillerman Library, 291-6264 Delta Society Pet Program
  2nd Saturday, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM on vacation until August
  

 

Dog Tales

  If you would like to share a story from the Read to the Dogs Program, email your story to J. Logan.

Hi, my name is Zosia, 

and I am 6 years old. My favorite toy is a stuffed dog dressed as Santa Claus. I love that toy, but I love my human most of all. Her name is Debby. Debby adopted me and gave me the name Zosia which is the Polish name for Sophie. I love books, and I love to listen to people read to me. Debby brings me to the library to meet children and listen to them read. The children are very thoughtful and kind. Just last week, a little girl dug into her backpack and pulled out some tissues. She laid them down beside me and said, "This is in case you have to sneeze", then she read me a story. I guess that she could tell that sometimes I don't feel well. I have cancer, and sometimes I hurt. Debby makes sure that I get the best medical care there is so I can feel better. I also feel better when children read to me.  That's why I like to come to the library!

4/9/09- Update on Zosia

My human is so proud of me that she urged me to tell everyone more about myself:

I was honored to be named the 2008 Greatest New Mexican Dog by KRQE-TV. Debby sent my picture into the TV station, and she told them about all the things that we do to help people and have fun together, so the TV people chose me as the winner. I think that they chose me because I take good care of Debby. I have been taking care of her since I was one - and - a - half years old. I take her everywhere with me. I like to introduce my human to people, because I'm just as proud of her as she is of me! I take her to the library to listen to children read, and I take her to agility competitions, and I take her out tracking.

I am also a master level agility competitor. That means that I am very good, because only the best dogs get to compete at the master level. Agility competition is similar to track events for humans except it's faster. Humans can't compete with the dogs, because we are too fast for them to keep up. Debby is my coach.

We work as a team in the sport of dog tracking. That's kind of like search and rescue only it's pretend. I do the tracking, because my nose is better at smelling things than Debby's. She gets so excited when my nose is on the trail of something!
Tracking is fun and I love seeing Debby's eyes light up when I do my best.

I've been sick with cancer. But l went to see a doctor, and I'm feeling better now. I'm still not able to do everything that I used to. I have to take it easy until I get better. I take Debby to the library and we listen to children read. We both enjoy this. We get to hear the children read some good stories. When we leave the library, Debby buys stinky cow hooves from the pet store and gives them to me to chew on when we get home. I looove those stinky cow hooves!

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Hi, my name is Emily Rose,

and I am a moodle. What? You don't know what a moodle is? My mother was a poodle. My father was a mystery. So, poodle + mystery = moodle. I really do know who my father is, but I won't tell my human. Because I like being a moodle. Not just anyone can be a moodle. I am. That makes me a one-of-a-kind dog.

My human's name is Jen, and I take her to the library with me to listen to children read. I am a little shy. I try not to be, but I can't help it. The children know this, so they let me snuggle up next to them when they read. They talk to me and pet me. It feels soooo gooood when they scratch behind my ears.

My favorite stories are about Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant, but I like most dog stories. One little girl told me a Christmas story. She couldn't read so she made up funny stories to match the pictures. She let me look at all the pictures. See! You don't have to be able to read words to read a book to someone. The library + kids reading = feeling happy.

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