Program uses pets to build skills, confidence

MECHANICSBURG — In a small library at Dohron Wilson Elementary School Friday, March 19, a handful of first-grade students sprawled on the floor with a book and an attentive dog often in their lap.

In a partnership with the Mechanicsburg Public Library and Dogtors, an animal assisted therapy group based in Springfield, several children throughout the elementary school spent part of their morning trying out their reading skills on four specially trained dogs.

Tammie Beers, youth librarian at the Mechanicsburg Public Library, said this year, a therapy animal is available at the elementary school for two hours every Monday. Usually, the program is available only once a year.

Beers said the program targets students who are often reluctant to read. But the pets make many of the students more comfortable, and therefore more willing to try.

“They associate it with something enjoyable, but it also improves their skills and their ability to recognize words,” Beers said.

Angie Laudermilk, who brings her dog Pop-Tart to the school once a week, said she’s noticed that while they’re typically shy at first, the children quickly get more comfortable reading to the animals.

Bob Wisenberger, chief of staff for Dogtors, said the animals and handlers receive about eight weeks of training to become therapy dogs. Cats and rabbits are sometimes also used as therapy animals. The pets are used to work with a wide range of clients, from residents in nursing facilities to children with handicaps and even mental health and juvenile detention facilities.

In many cases, patients are much more comfortable around the animals than they are other people.

“This is why this works so well in so many different situations, because people get tired of people and they get to the point where they don’t trust other people,” Wisenberger said.

Beers said the library will also host three PAWS reading sessions beginning in April, although space is limited.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.