Children get chance to read to four-legged friends
Anna York and Magnus Hratow visit Jodi, a golden retriever while volunteer Susie Stooksbury holds Jodi’s leash at the Oak Ridge Public Library. Jodi and Stooksbury are part of the library’s Ruff Reading program on Mondays. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Children under half her size came to meet her. While some were nervous at first, many enjoyed petting her after a while.
The Ruff Reading program happens at 11:15 a.m. on Mondays after 10:30 a.m. Story Time.
Susie Stooksbury, facility monitor with Human Animal Bond in Tennessee, or HABIT, brings Jodi for these Monday events. The dogs wear official HABIT scarves, marking them as qualified and ready for the program.
“This program gives children a chance to practice their reading skills with a lovable dog as their non-judgmental audience,” the library’s official website states.
Linda Gilpin, also with HABIT, comes with her dog Chester on Wednesdays to help with the library’s Teen Space, which runs from 2 until 5 p.m. She said she appreciates “when we cheer the teenagers up and they thank us for coming.” She also stops by the children’s room.
Gilpin has been coming since 2004, although with other dogs than Chester during some of those years. “A lot of it’s really good because some kids are never around dogs,” she said. “So it’s a way for them to get introduced to dogs and see that dogs can be a very good thing. And it’s also a pick-me-up for the staff. The staff loves when Chester comes to say hello to them.”
Stooksbury said some hesitation from children is typical.
“She’s bigger than all the kids that come in,” Stooksbury said, explaining why some express fear. She said usually with the help of a parent the child learns the dog isn’t going to hurt them.
“There are children who come in every week that get to know her, and she gets to know them,” Stooksbury said. “There’s a bit of a rapport.”
HABIT is a program of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, starting in 1986. Stooksbury said the key qualification to volunteer is owning a dog who behaves well.
“Some dogs are social and enjoy being with people and are calm enough to be with people, or strangers, I should say,” Stooksbury said.
“Not all dogs are good at it,” she added. “Some dogs are just too hyperactive.”
Gilpin said Chester understood his assignment. “He’s crazy. He’s a chocolate lab. He’s very energetic. But when he gets his scarf on, he knows. Especially when he comes in here with the little kids, he is so good,” she said.
In addition to the Oak Ridge library, HABIT volunteers take dogs to many locations in East Tennessee, working with different groups.
Just within Anderson County, HABIT volunteers and animals work with young people at Camelot Anderson County, Claxton Elementary School, Clinton Public Library, Emory Valley Early Learning Center, Norris Community Library, Scarboro Daycare and Willow Brook Elementary School.