| 11/10/2009 4:37:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Books, animals go together for National READ Day
Heather Edwards
staff writer
Has your child ever read a book to a dog or cat? They will have the chance on Nov. 14th, when area libraries will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program. Therapy animals will be on hand at the Rice Street Library, 1011 Rice St., from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pre-registration is suggested. Call 558-2223 for more information.
The READ program operates on the belief that there are many benefits to children reading to animals. Studies have shown that an animal's presence can help a child relax and even lower his or her blood pressure. Best of all, animals don't judge or correct a child, even if they mispronounce a word. The READ program began in 1999 in Salt Lake City as an offshoot of Intermountain Therapy Animals, whose mission is to enhance quality of life through the human-animal bond.
In the decade since its inception, READ has expanded to over 2,200 READ members in 49 states, three Canadian provinces, and three countries. In the Twin Cities, there are about 300 trained READ teams consisting of an animal and its owner/handler.
One of those teams consists of Barb Gaffner and her cocker spaniels; she had five therapy dogs until three recently retired. She used to show her dogs, was dismayed by the politics involved and found therapy work to be much more satisfying.
"Animals bring out the best in people," she said.
But READ animals aren't just regular dogs or cats. These are animals who are registered as therapy animals through one of several recognized national organizations. The most well-known organization is the Delta Society. A good therapy animal must be calm and comfortable in unexpected situations, tolerant of sudden changes, cool around other animals and calm around children. Their human teammates should have the same qualities, along with a love for books and children.
The animals are fighting an uphill battle. The literacy statistics are grim: In the United States, 42 million American adults can't read proficiently. Those who can read, often don't. So how can American children develop a love for reading?
That's where READ - and other similar animal programs, such as Paw Pals - come in. At the Sun Ray library, the Paw Pals program- which is held every other Monday evening- is always full to capacity.
"It's clearly hit a nerve in the community," said branch librarian Sheila Winderlich.
Winderlich became a believer in the power of "reading" dogs when she saw a little girl who had been bitten by a dog. She wouldn't read to the dog, but she accepted being in his presence.
"That had to be, in some way, a relief to her that she could be in the presence of a dog," Winderlich noted.
For more information on National READ Day, or on becoming a READ team, log on to www.readdogsmn.org.
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