Reading is no barking matter to this dog

“Come closer, I’m not gonna bite,” coaxed Susan Thorpe, director of the new Coeur d’Alene Public Library’s Children’s Division. As the youngsters seated at her feet scooted closer, she began to spin a tale about a wolf named Winston who loved words but wasn’t allowed into the library. The children sat cross-legged on the floor and intently listened to the story unfold.

In the middle of the group sprawled Sheila Darsie, 63, of Coeur d’Alene, and her Australian shepherd, Ginger. Kids gathered round, absently petting Ginger’s soft fur as they learned how Winston the Wolf dressed up like a grandmother to fool the librarian into letting him in. After several stories from Thorpe, Darsie moved to the story bench, and introduced Ginger.

“Ginger prefers it if you pat her back and not her head,” Darsie advised the children. She held up the book, “Three Stories You Can Read to Your Pet,” so the kids could see the pictures. “I have a shake, so you’ll just have to put up with a quaking, shaking picture,” she said. She then read the stories to the kids, who took turns sitting next to the contented dog.

“We know dogs are being used as therapy, and for people with Alzheimer’s,” said Thorpe. “If people with high blood pressure are petting a dog, their blood pressure drops dramatically.”

While attending a conference in Boise with the State Commission of Libraries, Thorpe heard about a program some libraries were doing to bring a dog in and let children read to it.

“Kids naturally love dogs,” said Thorpe. “This provides a risk-free environment and makes reading fun for the kids who are reluctant readers or kids who are afraid to read out loud because they can’t do it very well.”

Thorpe adds that research is showing, kids need to read aloud 20 minutes each day to develop their skills and stay at the reading levels they should be. When the new library opened to the public recently, Darsie approached Thorpe and informed her that Ginger was a registered Delta Pet Partner and volunteered to work with the library on a children’s reading program.

“The Delta Society has a six-week program where the dogs are trained to work in a setting with other dogs and learn not to sniff each other, or bark at each other,” said Darsie. “They have to be willing to put up with a crowded room, wheelchairs, loud voices, unexpected sounds, hugging in places that dogs don’t normally like to be hugged, like a full frontal hug,” said Darsie. “Dogs like to be hugged from the back rather than the front.”

After a dog passes the test it must return to a Delta Society trained professional to recertify every two years to be sure the dog and handler continue to follow procedure.

“I love this kind of work. I like to volunteer,” said Darsie. “I worked as a teaching assistant for kindergarten and first grade before I retired, and I dealt with special education, as well.”

Darsie explained to the children that Ginger’s fancy name is Elan Maple Sugar Candy because she’s from Vermont, where they make maple syrup.

As Darsie finished her stories, the children were ushered into a craft room for special time with Thorpe. Several youngsters stayed behind to have a one-on-one read time with Ginger and Sheila. The first reader, 8-year-old Phoebe Felker of Hayden, chose to read Ginger a book from the Magic Tree House Series, by Mary Pope Osbourne.

“We came here because it’s the new library, and I think it’s fabulous,” said Phoebe’s mother, Emma Felker. “Phoebe’s doing the AR (accelerated reader) program at school.”

Phoebe read a chapter of her book to Ginger and turned the book at the appropriate times so the dog could view the photos.

“It was very exciting, and Ginger even looked at the pictures,” said Phoebe. “I’d really love to come back and do it again.”

Five-year old Alyssa Beemster of Post Falls read an entire book of three- and four-letter words to Ginger. “We practice at home,” said Alyssa, who is home-schooled by her mother, Cindy Beemster. Cindy says her daughter doesn’t like to read to her at home, and she brought her to the library in hopes Alyssa would open up and read to Ginger.

“That’s what I was hoping would happen,” said Cindy. “It was the fastest I’ve seen her read. I thought she’d do well with the dog. She loves animals and even wants to be a veterinarian.”

From the impressive group of kids at the first reading, it appears that Darsie and Ginger are a big hit with area kids. But what does Ginger get out of all this attention?

“I bought Ginger a vest,” said Darsie. “It says, “Therapy Dog – I love working for hugs and kisses,” because that’s what she does.”