OTISFIELD – First-grader Patrick Hunter knows Rudy likes the book “Is This a Monster?” best.
How does he know? Because Rudy, the reading dog, licks him whenever Patrick reads it.
Rudy, an Irish setter puppy, also seems to appreciate “Kitty Cat,” says second-grader Zach Brissette. Rudy really listens to that story when Zach reads it to him, Zach says.
But wait.
“Well, the last book I read to him, he seemed to like a lot,” said Drake Micklon, a second-grader. That book was “The Doorbell Rang.”
Actually, “Rudy likes everything I read to him,” explains first-grader Joe Digby, “because he loves me.”
Rudy, a well-read-to dog, recently brought his love of books and people to Otisfield Community School as part of a trial program. The reading program may never be the same.
Is this a plot?
A dog in reading class? It sounds like the plot of a children’s book. But Rudy is there for a reason.
School Principal Linda Park is a certified handler of assisted therapy dogs, and Rudy – who has passed his tests to become a certified assisted therapy dog – is waiting to turn 1 year old, which is the last hurdle to certification.
While he’s waiting, Park put him to work.
She’d heard about a program called R.E.A.D., which stands for Reading Education Assistance Dog, developed by InterMountain Therapy Animals in Utah.
The theory behind R.E.A.D.: Children who are learning to read get stressed, not because they are not capable of reading but because they get nervous, she said. All those feelings make it hard for kids to focus.
When they read to Rudy, the kids relax.
“I really had no intention to use Rudy as a reading dog,” Park said. “I did my research and realized it was worthwhile.”
Park sent her plan to SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman, who told her to give it a try. Three first-grade and four second-grade students at the school were chosen to participate in the program. Park will be tracking their reading skills.
Rudy wins again
Currently, the students are scheduled to read to Rudy three days a week. Park said the kids would like to read more and that schedule may increase.
First-grade teacher Kemsen Bourque, who said all of her students want to read to Rudy, noted that students take to him immediately.
“When I ask the kids if they want to read to me or Rudy, Rudy always wins,” Bourque said.
Second-grade teacher Jessika Sheldrick sees her job as not only getting kids to read but getting them excited about it.
Park said, “My goal is just for the kids to enjoy reading to a dog.”
She warns this is not a program for every school. Nor is it a program for just any dog. But at this school, with this dog, the program is off to a good start.
“I definitely plan to use Rudy in the future,” Park said. “To me, to give the gift of reading to anyone, is invaluable and worth it.”
It’s a gift the reading dog seems to enjoy, too, says second-grader Lindsay Day.
Besides, she says, “Rudy smiles at me when I read to him.”
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