Reading to a Dog Brings Smiles to the Westport Branch
On a recent Saturday afternoon at the Westport Branch, there’s a quiet murmur of activity in the cozy upstairs meeting room.
Two girls take turns reading to a small dog with scruffy, golden fur, who’s sitting at attention, while a boy reads to a yellow Labrador stretched out on a blanket.
“We love having the kids come and read,” says Library Assistant Christy Underwood. “The animals love being read to.”
Underwood says she first learned about the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program at a Library event in November and knew she wanted to bring it to Westport. The monthly program started at that branch in December, and the next session is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Parents or guardians can sign up their child for a reserved time slot by calling the Library at 816-701-3488 or stopping by the front desk.
“It is the happiest day of my month, because it’s dogs, books, and kids who like to read,” Underwood says. “My cheeks hurt for like the next day (in December) because I was smiling so much.”
The Waldo Branch also offers sessions on the second Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
A therapy pet and a volunteer through KC Pets for Life, Inc., meet with children in 10 to 15-minute increments, providing an opportunity for them to practice reading skills in a low-stress environment by “reading to someone who is non-judgmental.”
Like a dog.
Volunteer Alicia Trigo and her 10-year-old black Labrador, Lassie, sit patiently on a red blanket, waiting for someone to stop and read. Trigo says she and Lassie have a two-year certification through KC Pets for Life, and her dog is expected to meet certain requirements.
“They should be able to obey basic commands,” Trigo says. “They should also be able to be with other dogs and not be aggressive, and walk and pass by other dogs without any problem.”
Kids can bring their own books or choose from a selection displayed on bright-blue carts or along the walls and near the blankets. Cats and dogs are featured on the covers, including Lisa Papp’s series about reluctant reader Madeline Finn and Ross Collins’ This is a Dog.
Sometimes a reading cat is added to the mix.
“We’ve got a little boy over here who’s really hoping for a cat,” Underwood says. “So, we've got somebody scouring their neighborhood trying to find their cat who went on walkabout this morning.”
In February, the air-tagged cat, a hoped-for but slippery participant, had stepped out for a walk. His wrangler found him, and the boy got in a story.
The sessions are currently open to young readers or pre-readers and their caregivers, but Underwood is also exploring an option for adults who’d like to read to animals, too, possibly once a quarter.
“It's just a lot of fun,” she says, “and it's the best hour and a half of my whole month.”