Dogs and cats are good listeners.
About 12 young and school-age children snuggled up with some furry friends on Saturday when Paws to Read returned to the Colusa County Free Library.
Kids spent about an hour reading books to shelter rescue dogs Josie and Stan – and a 3-month-old kitten named Austin, who basked in being the center of attention, while plying his feline wiles for a forever home.
” Austin is amazing,” said Animal Control Officer Jenna Lambgino. ” He is available for adoption.
The Paws to Read program connects kids and adults with furry friends to snuggle up with as they read a good book. The program helps children improve their reading and communication skills, while building social skills and self confidence, said Colusa County Literacy Program Coordinator Pamela DaGrossa.
Colusa County Library Director Stacey Costello previously partnered with Friends of the Colusa County Animal Shelter during the Summer Reading Program to provide an opportunity for children to practice reading out loud in a safe, non-judgemental environment
The program blossomed from there, although it was on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Library provided a number of animal related books for the children to read, including ” The Nine Lives of Dudley the Dog,” by John and Ann Hasseth, and ” Yip! Snap! Yap!” by Charles Fuge.
The Literacy Program also provided books for the children to take for their own home libraries, including Margret and H.A. Reys ” Curious George,” and David McPhails ” Animals from A to Z.
” This year, we have added the doggie adoption and the books to take home, because that is part of the Literacy Program,” DaGrossa said. ” We are tying the Paws to Read in with our literacy goals to encourage kids to read or be read to everyday. Part of our literacy program is getting books into homes.
In addition to the free books, kids that came to the Paws to Read event were given a small plush animal with official ” adoption” papers signed by Lambgino, so they could continue reading to their new pet on a daily basis.
Alondra Melendrez, 9, of Arbuckle, attended the program previously and was delighted to have the opportunity again to read to animals.
” I like coming to these a lot,” Melendrez said.
In addition to reading, Melendrez enjoyed spending time Saturday with the two dogs and cat. She plans to become a veterinarian in the future.
” I like animals and I want to help them. They are very cute,” Melendrez said. ” My mom said that if I truly cared for animals and wanted to help them, then I should be a veterinarian.
The next Paws to Read events are scheduled for 10-11 AM on Sept. 25 and Oct. 23, at the Colusa Branch Library, 738 Market St. –