Warren Library Goes to the Dogs

Margot and Humbert couldn't be more different.

She is a petite, 3-year-old who prefers cooler weather and who just started volunteer work. He is a large 11-year-old, volunteering veteran who doesn't seem to mind the heat or the cold.

But they both were very much alike as they quietly listened to children reading stories, from Barbie to Dr. Seuss, at the on Monday night.

Although eight-year-old Michael Costello of Plainfield said Margot was panting too loudly as he was reading.

Margot is a French Bulldog, accompanied by Kathleen Willoughby, and Humbert is a Standard Poodle, who came with Billi Schloss. They are among the more than 300 Paws for People pet therapy teams volunteering at hospitals, schools, libraries and other facilities for St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center.

The two therapy teams visited the library for an hour for Paws for Reading, a program held at various times during the year to give children a chance to read to a dog. Fourteen children met with the canines on Monday and shared their books.

In addition to reading to and petting the dogs, those who met with Margot got to take home her "business card," with her photo and a greeting. Those reading to Humbert had the chance to feed him treats.

For whatever reason, children selected cat books such as "Scat Cat" and "Too Many Cats" to read to Humbert, but he didn't seem to mind.

"I just love watching the kids interact with the dog," said Schloss, as a child held up the book he was reading so Humbert could see the illustrations.

And the children loved it.

Six-year-old Jacob Meltzer of Warren smiled when he said how much he liked reading to the dogs but furrowed his brow when asked why. His older brother, Sam, had an easier time explaining why it was so fun.

"We can read to dogs and we don't get that opportunity," said Sam, 8, who doesn't have a dog at home.

Then he asked his mother, "When are we going to get a dog?"

His mom, Stacey, changed the subject back to the program. "It's a unique experience," she said. "I think it's a good opportunity to practice their reading."

Janet Costello, who came for the first time with her children, agreed.

"The dogs aren't judgmental," said Costello of North Plainfield. "They don't mind if the kids read the words wrong."