Reading with Getty - April 11th

Meet "Golden Girl" Getty - a registered therapy dog with Pet Partners and a member of Reading Education Assistance Dogs -  and read out loud to her!

Children of all ages can sign up for a 15-min slot to come read to Getty. They can bring their own books or pick one from the store to read.

During a reading session, students will cycle through 10-minute time slots with Getty, a mild-mannered 12-year-old golden retriever, and her owner Wendy Hitch. Students can practice reading while Getty rests her head on their lap and enjoys ear scratches and pats :)  According to Wendy Hitch, a member of North Star Therapy Animals, registered therapy animal teams go through an extensive training and registration process with Pet Partners, which includes guidance for both animals and their owners, as well as stringent evaluations. Animals must be screened for health, and their temperament is a key factor in the registration process -

 After finishing their lessons, students will have the opportunity to give Getty a treat and say goodbye until next time.

 “My job is not really to correct students as they’re reading but to help them read with some fluency.  I’m always encouraging them. Mostly, the experience with the dogs is just to give them the opportunity to read out loud. It’s almost like a lesson in public speaking. A lot of kids never read out loud.” - Wendy Hitch, owner

“Animals are ideal reading companions because they help increase relaxation and lower blood pressure, listen attentively; do not judge, laugh or criticize; allow children to proceed at their own pace, and are less intimidating than peers,”  - Melissa Assels, an Instructor at Delano schools where Getty has participated in such a program.