Daisy’s tail wags back and forth actively as she listens to a story．Though the six-year-old beagle(小猎兔犬) may not be considered a traditional teacher, the dog’s presence has helped children practice their reading skills．The Sandusky Library’s newest program Paws to Read allows children in kindergarten through fifth grade to read their favorite stories to Daisy, one of two Read Therapy Dogs．

　　Morgan Skaff, 9, read a story at the library about Peanuts’ character Snoopy to fellow Daisy．“It’s fun because I like dogs,” said Morgan．

　　Daisy’s owner and trainer Laurie Buchele said it’s easier for children to read to a dog rather than a stranger．“Dogs are nonjudgmental,” Buchele said．“Dogs listen unconditionally and give a lot of attention and don’t care if you mess up a word．”

　　Angela Skaff said her daughters Morgan and Paige, 7, are both good readers, but the therapy dogs could help them get more excited about reading．

　　Julie Brooks, director of the Sandusky Library, brought the program to the library and said developing an excitement for reading was one of the main reasons．“We see it as one of our basic roles to make reading more fun and interesting,” Brooks said．“This is one of the ways kids can relax and enjoy reading．” Brooks said the Read Therapy Dog sessions will be an ongoing activity at the library since it has been so well received．

　　Daisy has had a lot of practice．The fourlegged canine(犬) has been visiting schools and libraries for about four years ever since she was rescued from the Humane Society of Sandusky County．“She gets to hear a lot of dog stories,” Buchele said．“But her favorite thing is…poetry．She’s a strange dog．”

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