PASCO, Wash. – The Mid-Columbia Libraries encourage students to visit the library over summer break. The library is working to take the intimidation out of learning to read by providing a furry companion.
According to the West Pasco branch of the MCL, therapy dogs are making kids want to go to the library.
Doug Herigstad, the branch manager for the West Pasco MCL, said that every week, therapy dogs from Camp Doodle Woods visit libraries so that kids can read to them.
The program is called Love on a Leash. It is a national program to help children who have trouble reading relax and feel more comfortable as they improve their skills without even realizing it.
Herigstad said for kids in school, coming to the library over the summer helps them retain and improve their literacy.
“To see the enthusiasm from the kids when they come in and are excited to see the dogs,” Herigstad said. “To see those dogs respond and reach out to them. Then to see that bond form over time between the kids and the dogs as their reading is really special.”
Herigstad said that not only does this help the kids read, but it also helps build community.
Families come in and get to know each other. According to Herigstad, they will get 20-30 people who come to these events.
Tracy Woods with Camp Doodle Woods says she and her dogs go to the Mid-Columbia Libraries’ west Pasco branch every Wednesday. She is coming up on one year with this program and has gotten to know the kids.
Woods said that knowing a dog’s healing power and comfort is huge for these kids. Reading to these dogs gives the kids something to look forward to.
“They’ll tell me who their favorite dog is,” said Woods. “I’ll encourage them to read to them, and I’ll say you can read out loud; you can read in your mind.”
One of the kids said their favorite parts are getting reading stickers and reading to the dogs because they are her favorite animals.
The West Pasco branch holds the program every Wednesday at three in the afternoon and will last through the summer. They encourage everyone to come down.
