photograph by Deborah Parkhill Mullis/MMHW, UCW
Matthews and Mint Hill libraries are now home to a program that lets students read to therapy dogs. (Above) Tucker, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, takes his turn in the spotlight.
Union West program that pairs struggling readers with pups
expands to Matthews, Mint Hill
by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
expands to Matthews, Mint Hill
by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
Since its trial run at Union West Regional Library, Paws Awhile to Read – a free program that allows children embarrassed or hesitant about their reading skills to build confidence by reading aloud to dogs – has become so popular that its founder, Teresa Faucett of Mint Hill has had to both increase her pack of therapy dogs and expand its territory.
“Nearby libraries saw that it could work – Matthews was the first Charlotte-Mecklenburg program that we did. Mint Hill followed soon afterward,” said Faucette, a Therapy Dogs International evaluator who was seeking community-service opportunities for her 4-year-old sheltie, Max, when she approached the Indian Trail library last year.
Faucette and Max, along with two other TDI dogs and their handlers, started Paws Awhile to Read at Union West in October 2007. Demand for the twice monthly program was so high that Faucette immediately added a fourth dog.
“Nearby libraries saw that it could work – Matthews was the first Charlotte-Mecklenburg program that we did. Mint Hill followed soon afterward,” said Faucette, a Therapy Dogs International evaluator who was seeking community-service opportunities for her 4-year-old sheltie, Max, when she approached the Indian Trail library last year.
Faucette and Max, along with two other TDI dogs and their handlers, started Paws Awhile to Read at Union West in October 2007. Demand for the twice monthly program was so high that Faucette immediately added a fourth dog.
Pack increases in size and variety
As the program expanded over the next 14 months, the pack doubled to eight dogs: Dusty, a dachshund handled by Sandy Pugyao of Waxhaw; Reiner, a German shepherd handled by Dale Stegall of Mint Hill; Maggie, a goldendoodle handled by Pat Pohar of Marshville; Piglet, a terrier-mix handled by Amy Harris of Goose Creek; Tucker, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel handled by Beth-Ellen Coates of Stallings; Zoey, a golden retriever handled by Tim Lauder of Matthews; and, of course Max, handled by Faucette of Mint Hill. A Newfoundland will join the program in January, as JJ the husky (one of the original three dogs) relocated to California.
“We could do (reading therapy) every, single Saturday and still have people waiting,” said Betsy Cullen, branch manager at Union West, where staffers, children and parents held a surprise party last month to thank the dogs and handlers.
“I had to lie to get them (to the party),” said Faucette, who told the handlers to bring the dogs to Union West for “mandatory” training.
Among those in attendance were Judy Silberquit and her son, Travis, 8, who regularly reads with the dogs at Union West. Silberquit had many compliments for the canines and their handlers, who have helped her son improve his reading comprehension and overcome his shyness. “He doesn’t just talk to the dogs. He talks to the handlers,” she said. “We don’t have pets at home, so the dogs are an added incentive (to read).”
“We could do (reading therapy) every, single Saturday and still have people waiting,” said Betsy Cullen, branch manager at Union West, where staffers, children and parents held a surprise party last month to thank the dogs and handlers.
“I had to lie to get them (to the party),” said Faucette, who told the handlers to bring the dogs to Union West for “mandatory” training.
Among those in attendance were Judy Silberquit and her son, Travis, 8, who regularly reads with the dogs at Union West. Silberquit had many compliments for the canines and their handlers, who have helped her son improve his reading comprehension and overcome his shyness. “He doesn’t just talk to the dogs. He talks to the handlers,” she said. “We don’t have pets at home, so the dogs are an added incentive (to read).”
More territory, more benefit
Now, the handlers are taking their pack of community-conscious canines to the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County’s Matthews and Mint Hill branches, too.
In Matthews, the program is called Tail Wagging Tutors and is held monthly on a Saturday morning. “I love to see the library so busy with children reading to dogs,” said Tricia Twarogowski, children services manager. “I like to try new things to encourage beginning, struggling or shy readers.”
“My daughter doesn’t like to read very much, but she loves dogs, so it was nice to see her excited to read,” said the mother of 7-year-old Lindsey, who was reading “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” to Tucker. Tucker’s handler, Coates, is an assistant teacher at Antioch Elementary School. Coates has two more Cavalier King Charles spaniels at home, but 3-year-old Tucker is the only one with the right temperament to be a reading-therapy dog.
On her first day volunteering at the Matthews branch, golden retriever Zoey proved she was up to the task. She remained attentive and calm as children flopped on the floor in front of her, flipping pages and sounding out the words in their books. Waving her fluffy tail whenever the children stroked her fur, Zoey was the perfect tail-wagging tutor.
“She’s our first therapy dog,” said owner Lauder of Matthews, who has another golden retriever at home. Lauder’s three children, ages 6, 10 and 12, came up with the idea of making Zoey a therapy dog. While Lauder took the dog through formal training, the children helped the pup practice at home. “We know some folks who have kids in the hospital, and they talked about the therapy dogs (there),” he said.
Lauder also was encouraged by Zoey’s trainer, who kept bumping the clever pup into more advanced classes. After meeting Faucette at a local pet store, Lauder scheduled Zoey for an evaluation and the pooch was approved to become a certified therapy dog.
Children who participate in the program receive collector cards of their canine reading companions. The cards have a photograph of the dog on the front and fun facts about the animal on the back.
Reading therapy programs resume at all three libraries in January.
For more information, about each library’s specific program, call the Union West Regional Library at 704-821-7475, the Matthews branch library at 704-416-5000, or the Mint Hill branch library at 704-416-5200.
In Matthews, the program is called Tail Wagging Tutors and is held monthly on a Saturday morning. “I love to see the library so busy with children reading to dogs,” said Tricia Twarogowski, children services manager. “I like to try new things to encourage beginning, struggling or shy readers.”
“My daughter doesn’t like to read very much, but she loves dogs, so it was nice to see her excited to read,” said the mother of 7-year-old Lindsey, who was reading “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” to Tucker. Tucker’s handler, Coates, is an assistant teacher at Antioch Elementary School. Coates has two more Cavalier King Charles spaniels at home, but 3-year-old Tucker is the only one with the right temperament to be a reading-therapy dog.
On her first day volunteering at the Matthews branch, golden retriever Zoey proved she was up to the task. She remained attentive and calm as children flopped on the floor in front of her, flipping pages and sounding out the words in their books. Waving her fluffy tail whenever the children stroked her fur, Zoey was the perfect tail-wagging tutor.
“She’s our first therapy dog,” said owner Lauder of Matthews, who has another golden retriever at home. Lauder’s three children, ages 6, 10 and 12, came up with the idea of making Zoey a therapy dog. While Lauder took the dog through formal training, the children helped the pup practice at home. “We know some folks who have kids in the hospital, and they talked about the therapy dogs (there),” he said.
Lauder also was encouraged by Zoey’s trainer, who kept bumping the clever pup into more advanced classes. After meeting Faucette at a local pet store, Lauder scheduled Zoey for an evaluation and the pooch was approved to become a certified therapy dog.
Children who participate in the program receive collector cards of their canine reading companions. The cards have a photograph of the dog on the front and fun facts about the animal on the back.
Reading therapy programs resume at all three libraries in January.
For more information, about each library’s specific program, call the Union West Regional Library at 704-821-7475, the Matthews branch library at 704-416-5000, or the Mint Hill branch library at 704-416-5200.
This article was published by Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, Volune 2, Number 1 * Jan. 2-8, 2009 and by Union County Weekly, Volume 4, Number 1 * Jan. 2-8, 2009.
