An exciting new program called Read to Wilson has started at the library this week. Read to Wilson is a program in which children are given the opportunity to have two 15 minute sessions with Wilson, a docile Dalmatian. In these sessions, the children read stories to Wilson as he eagerly listens.
The goal of this program is to make children, who may feel shy when reading to their peers, more comfortable with reading aloud. The children are usually less stressed when reading to a dog as the dog will not judge their reading ability. Programs like this one have helped many children reduce their apprehension when it comes to reading.
Wilson and his handler, Mary Jo Cardenas, have achieved the Handler/PetTeam Accreditation through Pets Helping People. Additionally, Wilson is insured and has passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Exam. When he's not listening to stories at the library, Wilson can be found donating his time in schools and hospitals.
