Kids Get Hands-On Learning When Pets Come To Library
If it’s the oldest trick in the book, Eddie knows it.
Roll over. Play dead.
Carol Byrnes of SpokAnimal brought Eddie, her 29-pound whippet, and Sol, her 88-pound greyhound to the South Hill Library last Wednesday.
Looped over her arm, Byrnes carried a black duffel bag, the temporary quarters of her mystery pet that was asleep.
Byrnes’ presentation was part of the city of Spokane’s summer reading program, “Spokane Reads.”
The program emphasizes reading, but it also includes learning activities - weekly presentations - that have brought a parade of storytellers, puppeteers and animals, exotic and otherwise, to the city’s libraries.
To the delight of more than 100 children, Eddie sat, stayed and performed leaps like Michael Jordan.
Sol eschewed tricks, but patiently endured dozens of kids who ran their hands over his short, black fur.
Eddie provided the entertainment. But Byrnes’ presentation was intended to educate kids about different dog breeds - their abilities, traits and temperaments - as well as when and when not to approach a dog.
“Always ask the owner if you can pet their dog,” Byrnes said.
Byrnes led each of her dogs through the audience, allowing the kids to get a close look at both.
Byrnes said she adopted Sol three weeks ago after he broke his toe and was retired from a racing track in Canada. Sol is a former Post Falls racing dog.
After the parade-to-post, Alyssa Parsons, 9, said she preferred Eddie, the bantam-weight, to Sol, who is taller and heavier.
“Well, I like the little one because I like small dogs and he was more silkier,” Alyssa said.
Meghan Kirk, 8, also preferred Eddie.
“He’s more fuzzier,” Meghan said, explaining her preference for the short-haired whippet.
Whippets and greyhounds are “sight hounds. They hunt by using their eyes,” unlike other dogs who hunt by scent, Byrnes explained.
And they are fast.
A whippet can run at speeds up to 35 miles per hour; a greyhound, 40 miles per hour, Byrnes said.
“Fast as a horse?” said one small member of the audience.
Byrnes nodded.
Byrnes’ final presentation involved waking up the normally nocturnal Norman, a sandy-colored hedgehog.
She explained that hedgehogs are shy, quiet pets who dine on insects.
Several kids immediately asked if hedgehogs bite.
“Norman does bite in order to crunch through beetles.”
And, yes, Norman has bitten Byrnes once. “It hurt,” she said. “Because he wouldn’t let go.”
Put kids and dogs together and you can’t miss, said children’s librarian Kristen Snyder.
Hedgehogs, however, are not everyone’s pet of choice. And for some good reasons.
When Chauncey Donovan, 7, was asked if he would ever consider a hedgehog as a pet, he replied: “No, they’re too spiky.”
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