Dogs allowed in the library? They are when they’re readers

Penny the golden retriever and Mischa Swanstrom made themselves comfortable on the floor at Prairie West Branch Library before Mischa opened the book and let Elephant and Piggy out to join them.

Elephant and Piggy are characters in the book Mischa had chosen to read to Penny. Their adventures would occupy girl and dog for the next 15 minutes.

“What is pretending, pre-tend-ing?” Mischa said, sounding the syllables out. Stretched out on her belly next to the 7-year-old, Penny waiting patiently as Mischa considered the word. Then, confidently, Mischa repeated in a rush, “What is pretending?” and continued to the next page.

Mischa, a 7-year-old home-schooled student, and Penny have practiced reading together all fall as part of a partnership through Siouxland Libraries and Therapy Dogs International’s Sioux Falls chapter.

“It’s an opportunity for children to read, to feel comfortable reading, to expand their reading skills,” said Cindy Bailey, whose therapy dog is a terrier mix named Annie. “One of my first experiences was a boy who would read to my dog, but people at the library said he wouldn’t read to his parents at home. When reading to a dog, you’re free to make mistakes and mispronounce words, and nobody is scolding. If you’re a slow reader, the dog doesn’t care. It gives them an opportunity to build some confidence in their reading skills.”

Emily Druley, who takes her therapy dog, Penny, to hospitals and nursing homes, had just taken the golden retriever to the University of Sioux Falls to spend time with college students stressed by finals. Coincidentally, one of the students who came to cuddle Penny was Mischa’s older sister, Ainsley Swanstrom.

Mischa’s face displays a big smile as she talks about reading to Penny.

“Reading with Penny has helped create excitement for reading,” said her mother, Emily Swanstom. “Mischa looks forward to it. It’s helped her gain confidence in reading aloud, and it’s calming to pet Penny while reading.”

Listening to youngsters read is where Penny excels, Druley said.

“She sometimes sleeps because she’s so comfortable,” she said.

Library associate Allie Kantak took over the program for the library about a year ago. Currently, about five or six people volunteer their time — and therapy dogs — but she hopes to expand that. The library provides the space and organizes registration for the 15-minute sessions, while Therapy Dogs International provides the dogs and trainers.

“I was very excited to start working with this program,” Kantak said. “I love dogs, and, of course, I love helping people read and connect with books.”

The program is offered to children in kindergarten through fifth grade, so it involved a wide range of reading levels. While the number of participants is tracked, that’s not the important statistic, Kantak said.

“The real impact is creating a positive reading experience,” she said. “The reason it’s such a great service is the kids can read to a nonjudgmental listener. The dog is happy to be there and next to this kid. It won’t correct them when they mess up a word or correct them when they’re reading too slowly.”

The Therapy Dogs International local chapter started at least 14 years ago, Bailey said. Its goal is to serve the community wherever members and their therapy dogs are needed, whether it’s an assisted living facility, a college or a library reading program.

The dog tutors started as a school reading program, then expanded to Siouxland Libraries, where it can be offered year-round, Bailey said.

The dog’s handler stays with the child and dog during the session. “If the child wants help, I’m there,” Bailey said. “Sometimes, children are not used to dogs.”

Recently, Bailey heard about another benefit from the dog tutor program, one that went beyond reading proficiency. In this instance, it’s a first grader who has been reading to Bailey’s Annie. The boy’s reading has improved, in part owed to the confidence he has gained reading to the terrier.

His mother “also shared an additional benefit that had never occurred to me,” Bailey said. “Up until his participation in the reading program, he had been afraid of dogs due to an incident when he was younger. Reading to Annie has helped him conquer that fear to the point where they now have their own dog.”