Dylan shakes Elle's paw.
After his session reading to Elle, a registered therapy dog, to overcome his fear of dogs, a new child came to read.
While rrspin.com has not yet received permission from the child’s family to use her name or chart her progress, her reading problems are profound, reading well below her grade level and having problems reading through a Thomas the Train book.
Leah Brewer, Elle’s owner, expected this to occur, and believes this is what the Tail Wagging Tales program at the Roanoke Rapids Library is about — Helping children whatever their problems may be.
With Zyla, also a registered therapy dog, and her owner Suzanne Thompson, who will join in the sessions, Brewer believes they can help the child.
“It looks like there’s a need,” said Thompson, after hearing the child struggle through the book.
Brewer believes the sessions will help the child. “She’s not being judged like in school. She won’t feel a lot of pressure.”
Adds Thompson, “The one thing about dogs is they never say a word.”
Dylan reading.
Dylan, who is 6, seemed more at ease with both dogs today, and Thompson encouraged him to not only stroke Zyla’s head and stomach, but her ears.
He remains scared when either dog looks at him. He still will only pet Elle on the back and head, but today did take her paw with encouragement from Brewer.
“I thought it was great,” Thompson said. “He’s a good reader.”
What causes his fears, however, Thompson doesn’t know.
“He did more today than he did before,” Brewer says. “Zyla’s a miracle dog.”
While Dylan says he just wants to come to the library and read, he does admit, “I want to feel more comfortable. I’m trying to get their eyes off me.”
He also admits he would like to have a puppy.
With Dylan’s progress today, Brewer believes the sessions will go faster now. “Things were different. He seemed more excited. It seems like he has gotten out of his shell.”
As far as the girl with reading problems, Brewer’s approach will be simple. “We do what we did today. We go with the flow.”
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