Nor'West News: July 15, 2021
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6 Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>15</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
NOR’WEST NEWS<br />
Confidence boosted by popular<br />
programme – Reading to Dogs<br />
HEADS TURNED when Maggie<br />
the border terrier scampered<br />
through Shirley Library.<br />
Maggie paid a visit one afternoon<br />
last week for the popular<br />
Reading to Dogs programme run<br />
by the city council.<br />
Maggie headed for the far end<br />
of the library where a red mat, a<br />
pint-sized armchair and a little<br />
dog bed awaited.<br />
Excited nine-year-old twins<br />
Keegan and Riley Salt were first<br />
up. They had booked one of four<br />
<strong>15</strong>-minute sessions with Maggie,<br />
who sat obediently while the boys<br />
took turns reading Seriously, Do<br />
Not Open This Book aloud and<br />
petting the patient six-year-old<br />
pooch.<br />
Maggie gave the occasional<br />
yawn, but was still an attentive<br />
listener. Keegan kept her on task:<br />
“Sit, Maggie, sit,” he whispered<br />
when she was momentarily<br />
distracted by a passer-by.<br />
Reading to Dogs has helped<br />
hundreds of children since its<br />
inception seven years ago.<br />
“The programme has been a<br />
success from day one,” said city<br />
council animal management<br />
COURAGE: Queenspark School pupils and twins Keegan and Riley Salt love taking part in<br />
Reading to Dogs,<br />
PHOTO: NEWSLINE <br />
officer Kym Manuel.<br />
From a pilot programme<br />
at Papanui Library, it quickly<br />
expanded to three locations<br />
each Tuesday, Wednesday and<br />
Thursday during school terms,<br />
with sessions booking out weeks<br />
in advance.<br />
“Our guiding principle was<br />
that the child’s confidence<br />
and enjoyment of reading be<br />
enhanced and their overall<br />
experience with the dog be a<br />
happy one, as many children have<br />
had scary experiences with dogs<br />
in the past,” said Manuel.<br />
Five dogs are involved in the<br />
programme with another two in<br />
training.<br />
All are chosen for their<br />
exemplary behaviour around<br />
children.<br />
Riley and Keegan are sold on<br />
the programme.<br />
“I like that you get to pat the<br />
dogs. I like that there’s all different<br />
types of dogs,” they said.<br />
And it has helped with their<br />
reading, with teachers noticing<br />
improvements in the pair since<br />
they started taking part in<br />
the programme.
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