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Aiden Patterson, 8, reads to Pagan, a service dog with Midnight Sun Service Dogs, at the Paws to Read one-year celebration at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson library, Oct. 15, 2016.
Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
2 min read
The JBER library is celebrating the second anniversary of the Paws to Read program Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon.
The program is available to children enrolled in kindergarten to fifth grade.
“Paws to Read offers a comfortable environment for kids to practice their reading aloud without anything or anybody to judge or correct them,” said Phyllis Talas, 673d Force Support Squadron library technician.
Attendees are introduced to a service/therapy dog and their handler upon arrival.
Children can expect coloring tables with an abundance of crayons and dog pictures, and each child will receive a free dog book provided by Blue Star Families.
Kids will also be a able to create buttons with a photo of their favorite dog.
Abbey Kruzel, JBER library story time artist, will be reading dog books and singing dog songs.
“This program is not unique to us,” said Pamela Medolo, 673d FSS library director. “Libraries and schools have been doing this for quite a while – at least 15 years. I think it’s been very well received [here at JBER]. We’ve been very happy with the response [and] we hope it continues to be popular.”
Paws to Read continues to have the overwhelming support of library patrons, Talas said.
Reading sessions are hosted on the third Saturday of every month.
“A dog doesn’t know if you mess up,” said Aiden Patterson, 9. “They’re just there to be loved, to be close to you, and to get attention from you.”
Aiden marks his calendar each month in anticipation of the event. He eagerly reads to the family’s dog each night in preparation for Paws to Read.
“Before Paws to Read, Aiden was afraid of dogs and being bitten,” said Jade Patterson, Aiden’s mother. “Interactions with the service and therapy dogs at Paws to Read have helped calm Aiden down and have taught him how to interact with dogs.”
The USO will provide ‘people chow’ as a treat for everyone.
The celebration is open to all, but in order to read to a dog, or for a Saturday reading session, register by contacting the JBER library at 384-1640.
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