Reading Dr. Seuss to Rover

The Library of the Chathams boasts a jam-packed summer events schedule. But a particularly unique get-together has been taking place on Wednesday afternoons and nights over the past few weeks.

Children of all ages can read to therapy dogs from St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center during hour-long sessions. This is the first summer the library has hosted such an event, which is formally called "Read to a Therapy Dog."

During the hour the animals are there, children are allowed to read to the dog of their choice for ten minutes or longer, depending on how many others are waiting their turn.

The event was made possible by donations from the Friends of the Library. It takes place on four Wednesday afternoons and four Wednesday evenings throughout the summer.

"The first week we had about 50 people," said library volunteer Raleigh Heap.

The program was started at St. Hubert's and aims to help children become more "confident with reading and comfortable around animals," says Sarah Weinbrom, another library volunteer.

Laura Weinbrom, the children's librarian and the program's supervisors, helped bring the event to Chatham.

"I have a friend who trains her dog with St. Hubert's and she got me really interested, so I called over to St. Hubert's," she said.

Each of the dogs—Molly, Maddie, and Nyla—is screened and receives special training before being dubbed a "therapy dog."

"They train the dogs, they evaluate the dogs, and they only send dogs that are going to be really gentle," Laura Weinbrom said.

At the event this Wednesday night, it was sometimes difficult to tell what the children are more excited about—reading or petting the dogs. Book selections ranged from picture books to Dr. Seuss's "One Fish, Two Fish."

"She can't even read yet," Jared Bilanin said of his daughter as he looked on. "It's just a picture book."

But Bilanin still feels the program is useful, even though his daughter may not actually be deciphering words on a page just yet.

"It's fun, and it gets her accustomed to other dogs and lets her enjoy reading," he said.

The series will meet again on July 28 and Aug. 11 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Aug. 4 and 18 from 7 to 8 p.m.

The event's supervisors know they can expect excited children to show at the upcoming sessions.

"They are all eager to get to the animal and get their turn to read," Laura Weinbrom said.