Kids read, dogs listen at Lafayette library – Boulder Daily Camera

The Paws to Read program at the Lafayette Public Library encourages kids to read in a safe environment with a furry friend.

Kids of all ages can pick out a book, sit down and read out loud with a certified therapy dog the second and fourth Sunday of the month at the Lafayette Public Library.

May Lowry and her husband, Larry Fisher, the main volunteers for the program, said that they had therapy dogs of their own, but the dogs died a few years ago. They missed having their therapy dogs around, so they started volunteering with the program in 2018 to be around dogs again.

Lowry and Fisher said that the goal of the program is not to monitor the kids’ reading comprehension but rather to create a positive environment for kids to read.

“We want to create a fun and positive place for kids and their families to enjoy reading and the library,” Lowry said.

Fisher said that sometimes there is a waitlist because so many kids want to read with a dog, but on slower days he is happy to see kids read to each dog.

Angelique Velasco, communications outreach librarian, said that while the program does not monitor reading progress, she does see the children’s confidence grow in regards to reading.

“Kids can read without being embarrassed or feeling judged or shy. They can sit with a dog who will show them unconditional love and patience,” Velasco said.

She said that a little bit of puppy love is more than enough encouragement to get kids who normally would not read to read. It gets kids to read for fun and not necessarily assigned reading work. She also noted that the kids love to read books about dogs to the dogs.

Stephanie George Weilert and Tim Weilert took their son Georgie Weilert to the Paws to Read program for the first time Sunday. Stephanie and Tim Weilert said that their son is a strong reader but that he struggled with group reading time. They said that Georgie is on the autism spectrum, and the noise and chaos of group story time could be overwhelming for him. They said that Georgie loves reading and dogs, so why not combine both?

Stephanie Weilert said that reading with the therapy dogs provides a safe, quiet environment for Georgie to pick out a good book and hang out with all the dogs.

Georgie was more than happy to make his way around with all the dogs and read to each of them.

“I love dogs. I love reading,” Georgie said.

Paws to Read partners with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, which provides testing, certification, registration, insurance and support for people who volunteer with their therapy dogs. The ATD tests therapy dogs every year, and makes sure that the dogs are healthy and have all required vaccinations. The ATD also assures that the dogs are still qualified to be therapy dogs and also enjoy their volunteer work.

Joy Wexels has more than 15 years of experience with therapy dogs and is a member of ATD. Wexels and her dog Chica have been volunteering together for five years. She said that sometimes, all people need after a stressful week is a little love from a dog. She and Chica are more than happy to help.

“It’s wonderful, to go someplace with a dog and watch the dog connect with people,” Wexels said, “You always see people go ‘this is just what I needed’ or ‘this made my day.’”