Friday Harbor: San Juan Island Library and Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor announced their partnership in the creation of Island Tail Tutors, a program that gives children a chance to read to certified therapy dogs.
Therapy dogs are being used successfully nationwide to help build confidence in reading ability. “Working with kids and dogs in this capacity has been very rewarding. The dogs love it, the kids love it, and I love it,” said Chris Durbin, trained handler and owner of three certified pet therapy Golden Retrievers. “My personal experience with the dogs is that they just innately know how to interact with kids. They’re intuitive, gentle, calm, and really the perfect companion for a child practicing reading.”
An Island Tail Tutors kick-off event will be held Saturday, January 9 from 2-3 p.m. at the San Juan Island Library. The public will have a chance to meet the dogs and their handlers, and to learn more about how therapy dogs assist children with reading. “Lily and Eliza are looking forward to hearing stories from the Island children,” said Carol Hooper about her two participating dogs.
According to Melina Lagios, San Juan Island Library’s youth services librarian, the three-month program will begin on Tuesday, January 12 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and continue every Tuesday until March 30. All sessions will be held in the children’s area of the San Juan Island Library. Elementary school-aged students of all reading levels are encouraged to attend.
“It has been my experience from working with a similar program that the results have been very successful,” Lagios said. “I’m very excited that the library can be part of this creative approach to building literacy skills.”
For additional information about Island Tail Tutors, please contact Melina Lagios at 360-378-2798 or Tawny Martel at 360-378-2158.
Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor is solely funded by private donations with the exception of a nominal portion of dog license fees. Since 1982, it has been able to provide abandoned or relinquished dogs and cats a warm kennel, food, healthcare, kindness, and adoptable animals a new, responsible forever home. The shelter is located on San Juan Island at 111 Shelter Rd.
The San Juan Island Library is located at 1010 Guard Street in Friday Harbor. It is a learning center for the community: a place for people to pursue independent educational and recreational interests, to use information resources, and to meet and interact in a public forum.
