Natalie Aguilera read a book to a new friend the other day. Her new friend’s name is Pepper, and excited children were standing in line at Santa Paula’s Blanchard Community Library to read to her. Pepper is a sweet, beautiful – and literate – standard schnauzer who appears at the library as part of the Therapy Dogs International, Inc. “Children Reading to Dogs” program. Photo by Susan Branham

Therapy Dogs International, Inc. “Children Reading to Dogs” program

May 30, 2007
Santa Paula News
By Susan Branham Santa Paula TimesNatalie Aguilera read a book to a new friend the other day. Her new friend’s name is Pepper, and excited children were standing in line at Santa Paula’s Blanchard Community Library to read to her. Pepper is a sweet, beautiful – and literate – standard schnauzer who appears at the library as part of the Therapy Dogs International, Inc. “Children Reading to Dogs” program.Natalie, who is six, was at the library with her mom, Alma and little brother Nathaniel. Natalie and her brother were excited at the prospect of reading to Pepper, and Natalie chose “Shoe Town” by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Grummel to read to the dog. “Natalie is a good reader,” Alma said. “She loves to read.”“Children Reading to Dogs” provides an opportunity for children to read in a relaxing situation as they develop increased confidence and reading skills. And reading to the dog is sooo much fun! Pepper’s owner, Sharon Clark, encourages the children as they read. Pepper is a delighted and well-behaved audience, wagging her short tail, which wags her entire body, in greeting. She rests on her own quilt, which features a cat and tree, as she listens to the children read their favorite books to her.
Children’s and Young Adult Librarian Ilene Gavenman is impressed with the “Children Reading to Dogs” program. “I feel it is a very special opportunity for children to read to the dog,” she said. “We are extremely lucky that Sharon is giving the children of Santa Paula this opportunity. Pepper is as good as gold. Children really respond to reading to the dog; it is a nice connection, just grand.”Pepper is AKC Obedience trained, TDI certified, and has been awarded a “Canine Good Citizen Award.” Children are invited to “Come Read to Pepper” Monday afternoons at 3 p.m. at the Library. Pepper will be back at the Library in mid-June after a little vacation. Blanchard Community Library is located at 119 No. 8th Street in Santa Paula. For more information or to ask about other Library programs, call the library at 525-3615.



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