On Wednesday, one of the dog days of summer, young readers waited their turn to read a book to Crunch, a golden retriever therapy dog at Vancouver Community Library.
His golden locks brushed and his tongue hanging out, Crunch sauntered into the children’s section. He was welcomed with smiles, nods and wiggles.
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District has offered the Read to the Dogs program for about four years.
“A lot of kids will read to the dog, but they’re too embarrassed to read aloud otherwise,” said Jacquelyn Keith, children’s services librarian for Vancouver Community Library. “The dogs are not judgmental when the kids stumble over a word.”