Paw prints: Dog days feature reading with kids

With their favorite books in hand, children between the ages of 2 and 12 raced over to the kids section at the Clovis-Carver Public Library Wednesday morning for the library's "Read with a Therapy Dog" event.

From "Cat in the Hat" to "The Rainbow Fish," the children read books to their all-so-excited furry companion, Remington the 6-month old golden retriever.

Remington has been training to become a therapy dog for four months and this was his first public training with children, said his owner and trainer, Michelle Henderson.

The event is usually with Henderson's other therapy dog, Lunabelle, a cattle-dog mix who has served as a therapy dog for two years, Henderson said. But being the last day of the summer-long event, Henderson said this was a good opportunity for Remington to practice his services with toddlers and young children.

"I wanted to do more with my dogs. I saw how they were, I saw how loving they were and how much they wanted to be around other people and I wanted to share that," Henderson said.

Ashley Maestas, youth services librarian and coordinator of the event, said the library has been searching for new ways to bring the community closer together and that Henderson's therapy dogs were a great addition in making that dream a reality.

Maestas said the event has been going on all summer, with usually Lunabelle as the main star of the show. She said despite Remington still learning the ropes of becoming a therapy dog, he did an excellent job attending the children at the event. He was even awarded with a few treats by some of the librarians.

"They (the dogs) provide a lot of comfort for the little kids, like the toddlers and preschoolers. And they (the children) just love sitting with the dog and talking with them. It also helps them wind down from the excitement of story time," Maestas said.

In between readings, children would come up to the puppy in training and give him belly rubs and giggle as Remington would award them with licks on the hand.

Madison Thorley brought her 2-year-old son and 6-month-old daughter to the reading. She was impressed by the level of control and training Remington showed to the children.

"I think it's amazing that the library is hosting something like this," Thorley said as her son read to the therapy dog. "Not only is Remington so well behaved, but it also teaches our kids how to properly interact with animals in public spaces."

Henderson said she had always had a strong passion for dogs and when she adopted Lunabelle three years ago, she knew she wanted to create an environment where her dogs could help serve her community.

Henderson, who is also a teacher, often takes her dogs to the classroom with permission from the school and her student's parent's. She said it gives Remington and Lunabelle a chance to continue providing services to people who need it, but also gives her the opportunity to teach her students manners.

Her therapy dogs helped build reading confidence for her students, said Henderson. Children tend to get anxious or shy when reading in front of another person, but reading in front of a dog helps the kids feel comfortable while working on their reading comprehension, Henderson said.

"Therapy dogs are service dogs for multiple people because they are helping a group of people as opposed to just one individual person. They're there to help you feel better," Henderson said.

Therapy dogs volunteer with their handler to provide comfort, affection and love to the community, said Henderson. Though therapy dogs are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which gives the pet full public access rights, they are still fully trained and go through testing to volunteer at hospitals, mental health institutions, schools and libraries.

"We're able to help people process emotions. Sometimes you don't realize the emotions you are carrying, until you've sat down and have a dog. I've seen it. People start crying when holding a dog and they didn't realize they were carrying all of that (trauma) until something like that happens," Henderson said.

Henderson said some of the behaviors Remington has to show in events like this is that he has to be calm, unfazed by unfamiliar noises and movements and be comfortable being handled by other people.

When considering if your dog is fit to become a therapy dog, Henderson suggests considering these guidelines:

n Know your dog. Not every pet will be suited for therapy or service work, it takes a lot of attention and training. Each pet has their own personality and needs and it is always best to respect their boundaries.

n Start with the basics. See if the dog is comfortable with the basic skill sets of sit, stay and yield. The dog's behavior around other people and animals is a key component in telling if service work is right for them.

n Be patient and consistent. With each personality, each dog has different learning speeds regardless of age or breed. It's best to take your time with your pet and ensure you're going at a pace they are comfortable with.

Henderson said people tend to overwhelm their pet right off the bat. She said the training always starts at home and once the pet grows comfortable there, then it is OK to consider taking your pet to public "pet-friendly" environments.

"It definitely starts at home. I would not bring your dog into public, until you have worked through basic manners such as sitting, walking on the leash and laying down," Henderson said.

As Wednesday's event drew to a close, so did Remington's big brown eyes as he got ready for a nap on the library floor. Filled with laughter and bellyrubs, Remington passed his first training event. Henderson said that as the school year rolls around, Remington will be making more weekend appearances so that he can continue his training with Clovis' younger generation.

Madison Willis writes about pets for The Eastern New Mexico News. To suggest a story or nominate a "Pet of the week," contact her at:

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