Beginning on Monday, October 17, 2022, the Dare County Library’s Manteo location will team up with the local branch of the nonprofit organization Pet Partners to offer children the opportunity to read to a certified therapy dog. Sessions will be available on Mondays and Thursdays starting at 3:30 p.m.
Pet Partners is the national leader in demonstrating and promoting the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities and education. With thousands of registered teams making more than 3 million visits annually, Pet Partners serves as the nation’s most diverse and respected nonprofit registering handlers of multiple species as volunteer teams.
Therapy pets allow readers to focus on the animal instead of feeling self-conscious, which helps their performance and confidence when reading. This program offers children of all ages and all reading abilities the opportunity to practice reading aloud to an attentive and non-judgmental listener.
Reading to a therapy dog at the Manteo Library is a free service that is available to any child ages 3 and above and students in Dare County. Therapy dog reading sessions will last 10 minutes each, and children can come once or twice per week to attend a session.
Registration is required. To sign up, please visit the Manteo Library in person or call the Manteo Library 252-473-2373. A selection of books to read with the dogs will be available, or readers can bring their own books with them. For more information about the therapy dog program, please contact East Albemarle Regional Library System Director Jonathan Wark at 252-473-2372 or jwark@earlibrary.org.
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