Paws to Read to help collar literacy

Children can read to dog in Cd’A library program
The latest volunteer at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library is a retired showgirl – dog shows, that is.
Ginger, a 9-year-old Australian shepherd with a sweet face and a sweeter disposition is coming to the Seagraves Children’s Library to help children learn to read by being a good listener.
Ginger and her human companion, Sheila Darsie of Coeur d’Alene are part of a new program at the library – Paws to Read – to be offered this fall in conjunction with the Extreme Readers program for ages 5-8. Starting Wednesday, Oct. 17 the sessions will begin at 4 p.m. and 4:30-5:30 p.m. parents and guardians can schedule one-on-one time in 20-minute increments with Ginger for a child to practice reading to the dog.
Darsie and Ginger have been trained through the Delta Society’s Pet Partners program for Ginger to serve as a companion animal. Darsie said Ginger has been trained to be “off lead” and to respond to obey commands to sit, stay, and “leave it” – not to pick up items of food that have been dropped, for example.
She said Ginger has also been trained not to respond to loud noises or sudden movements. The dog is eager to enjoy human contact, Darsie said, and has been groomed with short hair to avoid the potential for children to pull her fur.
Ginger has lived with Darsie for since she was three when she was retired from the dog show circuit.
The Delta Society was founded in 1977 by a medical doctor and a veterinarian with the goal of improving human health through service and therapy animals. The society has trained more than 9,000 volunteers in the Pet Partners Program and provides a variety of related resources and referrals.
According to the Delta Society interaction with animals tends to lower blood pressure and anxiety levels and stimulates the release of endorphins that help people to feel good.
Literature from the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program – launched in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals, a nonprofit organization – says children reading to dogs has been successful in encouraging literacy.
Animals can be ideal reading partners because they:
* Help increase relaxation.
* Listen attentively.
* Do not judge, laugh or criticize.
* Allow children to proceed at their own pace.
* Are less intimidating than peers.
To schedule reading time with Ginger during the Wednesday programs, contact Youth Services at the library by calling 208/769-2315 Ext. 438 or e-mail to info@cdalibrary.org.