THE READER DOG DOWNEAST STORY

PROLOGUE

Not so long ago in the Pacific Northwest, MJ Penn and her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Kelvin, went to the Pet Exposition at the Evergreen County Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA. It was Mother’s Day of 2002. While there, they passed by a booth with a banner saying “Reading with Rover”. Inside the booth, a woman, Becky Bishop, was standing with her chocolate lab, Moose, who was sporting a red bandanna.

Out of curiosity, MJ and Kelvin stopped to inquire. Upon learning that Reading with Rover was a volunteer program in the Bothel Public Library, where kids came to read books to dogs, and that a few more dogs and handlers were needed to augment the program, and that a therapy dog training class, taught by Becky, would begin the next month at Cascade Kennels in Woodenville, WA, MJ and Kelvin signed up on the spot.

Kids, dogs and literacy all being dear to MJ’s heart, the idea of training for, being evaluated and certified as a Pet Partners therapy dog team with Delta Society, and volunteering at the library were goals to be avidly sought. And so they were, with Kelvin’s full participation.

King County (Seattle), having VERY strict prerequisite volunteer hours for therapy dogs BEFORE allowing them into the library, proved too bureaucratic for MJ and Kelvin. So they sought other avenues and found willing acceptance with the Sno-Isle Library System branch in Mountlake Terrace, WA, where they had a wonderful time being part of the “Delightful Doggies” summer reading program. Moving to San Juan Island, WA the next year provided another library venue for another summer reading program.

And then it was time to end their Pacific Northwest sojourn. In the fall of 2003, MJ and Kelvin returned home to Mount Desert Island in Maine. Kelvin, now four, having first graced the Southwest Harbor Library with his presence as a six month old puppy, was welcomed back as a legitimate therapy dog when MJ brought the idea of the Reader Dog Downeast program to the library’s director, Candy Emlen and Children’s Librarian, Susan Plimpton.

While in development for several months, all the parts and pieces and preparations for the Reader Dog Downeast program came together in the later part of February 2004. Beginning with a pawtographing session on Valentine’s Day, participation in a Poetry Round Robin, attendance at the Afternoon Tea, with an appearance at the Pajama Storytime, followed by a presentation about the program, Reader Dog Downeast was set to launch with reading sessions scheduled for Wednesday afternoons in March.

Standby for updates and more information as the program gets underway!