Sept/Oct 2013 - Inside Chappaqua

Since I was a puppy I have heard
people say to my owner, “Maggie
should be a therapy dog.” Because I am
small, calm, very gentle with children
and a hypoallergenic poodle they
thought that would be a good job for
me. And I like to have people pet me.
My owner said that these dogs visited
hospitals, elder care centers, schools
and other places to help people feel
better and happy. Then I heard about
a therapy dog that has children read
to him at the Chappaqua Library. I
thought this was really a great thing
since I love when my owner, who is a
former School Librarian, reads to me.
So I contacted Miriam Budin, Head of
Children’s Services, to find out about
their program Short Tales for Too Tall.
Children sign up for a fifteen-minute
session to read to Too Tall, a retired
rescued Greyhound racing dog. Accompanied
by his owner, Anne Quick, Too
Tall listens to each child read either a
book of their choice or one that the
library provides. “We’ve had a number
of different therapy dogs over the past
ten years and have structured the programs
in a variety of ways, but we’ve
come to feel that a private session with
the therapy dog feels extra-special,
even though it limits the number of
children who can participate” says
Budin. “The response to Too Tall, a particularly
elegant, gentle and gracious
dog has been wholly positive.”
M A G G I E M A E P U P R E P O R T E R T M
Reading has Gone to the Dogs
By Maggie Mae...with Ronni Diamondstein
When Quick, a Young Adult Librarian
adopted Too Tall, she immediately
began to train him as a certified
therapy dog as well as a R.E.A.D
(Reading Education Assistance Dog).
Too Tall told me he likes the children
reading to him and especially enjoys
the treat they give him at the end of
the session. “Even though it may look
like I am sleeping with my eyes closed,
completely relaxed with my head in
the child’s lap, I am paying attention,”
says Too Tall. “I have a vivid imagination
and close my eyes to picture the
stories being read to me.” And he adds
that Quick reads to him all the time
too. “Her mission in having people
read to me is not only to introduce and
foster a love for learning and literacy,
but also to share me with others and
teach people what ‘greyt’ pets retired
racers make.”
“Dogs don’t care if you read fast or
slowly. They just like to be with people,”
said Quick. A parent of one of Too
Tall’s readers told me that she brings
her seven-year-old son so that he has
a “noncritical” listener. Her son had
brought his own copy of a Henry and
Mudge book by Cynthia Rylant, which
is a popular series about a boy and his
dog. Marielle, an eight-year-old from
Briarcliff Manor wouldn’t miss a session
with Too Tall, “I love reading and I
love dogs!”
Quick says she always gets terrific
feedback and that the parents enjoy
Too Tall can’t take his eyes off Thomas as he it as much as the kids. “Some of our
reads to him about a boy and his dog.
readers were afraid of dogs before
38 Inside Chappaqua September/October 2013
Photos by Ronni Diamondstein
Eight-year-old Marielle of Briarcliff Manor
never misses an opportunity to read to Too Tall
meeting Too Tall. Some were afraid of
reading,” says Budin. “Anne Quick and
Too Tall have such an encouraging way
about them that the response to their
visits has been entirely
positive.” Short Tales for Too
Tall will continue this fall
at the Chappaqua Library.
Check the Chappaqua
Library website for more
details about this special
program for children: www.chappaqualibrary.org.
Wow! All this talk about reading
makes me want to sit on my owner’s
lap and curl up with a good book. Then
maybe I can be a R.E.A.D dog too!
Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter
at maggiemae10514@gmail.com
Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with
her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein,
who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is
a freelance writer, PR consultant and
award-winning photographer who has
worked in the US and abroad.
Maggie Mae’s Must Do:
Top Hat and Tails Gala
October 18th
Launching a new feature to highlight
pet events, charities and organizations
and am wagging my tail with joy to tell
you about a special event for the SPCA
of Westchester, the 11th Annual Top
Hat and Cocktails Gala. This hot dog of
an affair will be held at the Ritz Carlton
in White Plains on Friday, October 18,
2013 from 7:00 to 9:30PM. Step out in
style with your dog for a fun evening
of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, canine ice
cream bar, animal communicator, live
music, dancing and a silent auction.
Tickets are $200 per person. Well
socialized dogs and their owners will
enjoy this event that supports the many
wonderful programs of the
SPCA of Westchester.
For more details visit
www.spca914.org.