On a rainy Thursday afternoon, children and their parents made their way into the Lodi Public Library, eager to participate in the weekly event called Paws to Read.
The kids, wearing rain boots and coats, were given numbered purple cards upon arrival, which would ensure their turn in reading to certified therapy dogs alongside their handlers.
Paws to Read is an initiative that started over 10 years ago with Fuzzy, a small mixed poodle. The program aims to provide children with a relaxed and supportive environment in which they can read to therapy dogs without any restrictions. Yvette Herrera, the Literacy and Programs Manager at the Lodi Public Library, says that this program is especially beneficial for children who struggle or are reluctant readers in their school environment.
Shannon Ryan, who attended the event with her five-year-old son, Garrett, believes that reading to animals helps children open up more than they would to a stranger. Mary Nguyen, a Stockton mother of two, found that reading to the dogs reinforced her daughter's reading skills while teaching her son to sit down and behave.
Marne Simpson, the Paws to Read coordinator and trainer, explains that the dogs brought to the event are local and certified therapy dogs through Animal Friends Connection therapy dog certification. Anyone with a certified therapy dog can volunteer to bring their dog, and the dogs can be trained to work in the program.
Paws to Read is held every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Lodi Public Library, located at 201 W. Locust St. One dog is brought to the library each week. It is an excellent opportunity for children to develop their reading skills while also spending time with animals.