By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
Children 'paws' to read
Therapy dogs help kids hone literacy skills
Dog WEB 1
Ryan Baltzglier browses books to read to a dog Wednesday at the Cumming Library. The effort is part of Humane Hearts Pet Therapy program where dogs help children with reading skills. - photo by Autumn Vetter
Jack Stevens sat down on a recent afternoon with a book about a boy and his dog.Then the 6-year-old read it to a golden retriever who’d been waiting to hear the next story at the Cumming library.Rockne “loves coming to libraries to hear kids read,” said his owner, Debbie Morley.The therapy dog has been using his training to help people in a variety of ways, Morley said, but only recently discovered his love for books.The Humane Hearts Pet Therapy program started in 1994 at the Humane Society of Forsyth County and has served in a variety of volunteer and educational roles, according to the organization’s Web site.Visits to the Forsyth County Public Library became regular two months ago through the Paws to Read program, in which children can sign up for a 15-minute time slot with a dog.Morley said therapy dogs can help kids with reading skills simply by listening.“Dogs don’t judge. They don’t correct. They don’t get impatient,” she said.She said 5-year-old Rockne was a “natural” as a therapy dog for reading.
Weather
CUMMING WEATHER