While many dogs know how to fetch and roll, Charlie has an unusual talent: He can encourage children to read.
Charlie is a therapy dog and is part of the R.E.A.D. team, along with library assistant Victoria Hanley, of Lutz.
The pair are involved in a new program at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, called “Read with Charlie the Dog.”
R.E.A.D. is an international program that seeks to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.
Dogs like Charlie must complete a rigorous training period followed by passing a series of tests to qualify as a “Reading Education Assistance Dog.”
Hanley and Charlie each completed their training with Courteous Canine Inc., in Lutz, in December of 2017, to become an official R.E.A.D. team.
Hanley said she was inspired to become a R.E.A.D. volunteer many years ago when she first encountered the program in Lee County.
At the time, both her young daughters were diagnosed with dyslexia, and she found that just being in the presence of a therapy dog had strong physiological effects, a calming influence that helped her children gain the confidence to read aloud.
Hanley also noted that reading to a dog helps on all fronts because a dog is nonjudgmental and helps children relax. The experience often helps to increase a child’s desire to develop his or her own reading skills.
The program is being offered for children at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Tuesdays, with four sessions available per afternoon.
Children taking part get 15 minutes of one-on-one time with Charlie and can bring their own book or choose one from Charlie’s personal collection affectionately known as “Charlie’s Favorites.”
A signed waiver is required.
To schedule an appointment with the R.E.A.D. team, call the library at (813) 929-1214.
By Christine Holtzman
Published April 11, 2018
