Tiger, a Pets on Wheels certified therapy dog, has made her return to the Easton Branch on Monday, September 26, reading along with young children.
Over 10 kids showed up and caressed the Maltese while her owner, Janet Dickey, read to them. They had an option of listening to Dickey or picking out their own books to read aloud to Tiger.
The next time Tiger will be back at the library will be Monday, October 24 and Monday, November 28, both at 4 p.m. For Dickey, it is crucial for families to come in and to encourage their children to read using a unique and successful approach.
“Reading is fun and when you read to the dog, you lose your fears about reading,” said Dickey. “You just keep reading because the dog can’t criticize you. Tiger gets frequent readers at the library from time to time and it has been so successful that parents also joined our circle and on all the fun in reading!”
Dickey has had Tiger for 12 years, and hopes she continues to be a part of Pets on Wheels for a long time. The nonprofit organization shares the love of friendly therapy pets to connecting pets with people to make a difference every day.
“Reading to a dog, especially Tiger, a cute Maltese and trained therapy dog, has a way of calming the child,” said Talbot County Free Library Youth Services Librarian Laura Powell. “The activity’s focus naturally shifts from the child to the dog, making the dog the focus of attention, which features acceptance and calm. This element of calming acceptance, when first learning to read, has the power to transform the experience and make it so the child experiences new reading skills with ease. And it’s a happy time for Tiger too!”
No registration is required. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org or call (410) 822-1626.
About Talbot County Free Library
It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St., and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, digital devices, free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and program for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.
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