Paws to Read celebrates one year

Phyllis Talas, 673d Force Support Squadron library technician, presents an award to Aiden Patterson, 8, at the Paws to Read one-year celebration at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson library, Oct. 15, 2016. Aiden has attended all Paws to Read sessions and received the award for his commitment to the program.

Paws to Read celebrates one year

Penny Kruzel, 6, and sister Izzy, 4, greet Gleeson Odin, an electronic-storage-device detection dog with the Anchorage Police Department, at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson library, Oct. 15, 2016. Up to three working dogs can be at any given Paws to Read session and can sit with up to 15 children in 20 minute intervals. Library staff hope to one day be able to host five dogs, allowing for more children to participate.

Paws to Read celebrates one year

Leland Erker, 2, reads to Sheila Barrett, a therapy dog handler, and Swivel Shot, a therapy dog with Midnight Sun Service Dogs, at the Paws to Read one-year celebration at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson library, Oct. 15, 2016. Up to three working dogs can be at any given Paws to Read session and can sit with up to 15 children in 20 minute intervals.

Paws to Read celebrates one year

Published Oct. 18, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
JBER Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson library hosted a celebration to commemorate the one-year mark of the Paws to Read program at JBER, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2016.

“Paws to Read offers a comfortable environment for kids to practice their reading aloud without anything or anybody to judge or correct them,” said Phyllis Talas, 673d Force Support Squadron library technician.

Attendees were greeted by two service dogs, eager to listen to stories. Also in attendance was Gleeson Odin, an electronic-storage-device detection dog with the Anchorage Police Department.

Coloring tables were set up with an overabundance of crayons and doggie pictures, and free dog books were provided by Blue Star Families. Dog related books were read and songs were sung by the JBER library story time artist, Abbey Kruzel.

Up to three working dogs can be at any given Paws to Read session, and can listen to up to 15 children for 20 minute intervals, Talas said. Library staff hope to one day be able to host five dogs, allowing for more children to participate.

“This program is not unique to us,” said Pamela Medolo, 673d FSS library director. “Libraries have been doing this, and schools have been doing this for quite a while – at least 10 years, maybe a little more. But it’s new to our base, and I think it’s been very well received. We’ve been very happy with the response. We hope that it continues to be popular.”

Paws to Read continues to have the overwhelming support of library patrons, Talas said. Reading sessions, hosted the third Saturday of every month, provide full use of the working dog’s time.

“A dog doesn’t know if you mess up,” said Aiden Patterson, 8. “They’re just there to be loved. To be close to you, and get attention from you.”

Aiden marks his calendar every month. Eagerly, as his mother describes, he prepares the nights leading up to Paws to Read by reading to the family dog.

Before Paws to Read, Aiden was scared of dogs and being bitten, said Jade Patterson. Interactions with the service and therapy dogs at Paws to Read have helped calm Aiden down and have taught him how interact with a dog.

To schedule a Paws to Read session contact the JBER library at 384-1640.