Library event goes to the dogs
LEE ZION, EDITOR
Harrison County Times-Reporter
A special day for Missouri Valley was also a special day for dogs.
The Missouri Valley Gathering market is held on the third Saturday of the month over the summer. This past Saturday, the theme was the “Dog Days of Summer.”
Vendors, the library and others held dog-themed events, such as a doggie treat trail and a table for Rainbow Bridge, a memorial that allows people to honor pets that have passed on.
There was also a “doggy painting activity.” Paint was poured onto paper, which was then sealed in a plastic bag. The outside of the bag was then smeared with peanut butter, which the dogs could then lick.
The licking pressed the paint into the paper, creating an abstract work of art.
Not to be outdone, the Missouri Valley Public Library came up with its own program. A dog-themed “matching game,” dog origami and several books about dogs. The crowning touch: Kids were invited to read to dogs brought in for the program.
Dawn Meadows, library director, said that Reading With Dogs has been done at other libraries throughout the country. This was a first time locally.
“I thought, because we have never done it before at the library, it would be a really fun time to do reading with dogs,” she said.
Meadows invited friends to bring in dogs so kids could read to them. And kids would learn about the different jobs dogs can do.
If reading to dogs sound odd, it has been shown to build confidence in young readers. Youngsters feel more confident because the dog doesn’t judge.
This is not yet a regularly scheduled event at the library. Meadows wanted to see if she could create a partnership to make that happen.
“I think that would be really, really neat. We just need to find the right thing,” she said.
Cate Frazier, 13, says she trains her dog at the library. She said that helps 5-year-old “Max” get used to people.
