Port Townsend Library Hosts Summer READ to ROVER for Kids

Christina Pivarnik and Whiskey listen to a reader at the library


Dogs are wonderful listeners! Kids ages 5-11 are invited to bring their favorite book or choose one from our library, then build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to one of our therapy dogs. We encourage parents, grandparents and sitters to come and watch your kids enjoy reading with our great dogs.

The Port Townsend Library is located at 1220 Lawrence St. and the Read to Rover sessions will be in the Children’s Room every Tuesday this summer at 1:00 pm. For more information, call (360) 385-3181.

Visit Pet Pals at the Connectivity Fair

Olympic Mountain Pet Pals will be represented at the Jefferson County Connectivity Fair,
Sunday, April 16th from 1:00 – 5:00. We hope to meet old and new friends at this event.
As we emerge from the isolation of these past pandemic years, we are all eager to reengage with our community, meet new faces, and support the activities that keep our region dynamic and connected!

Come and be inspired by the short film, INTERCONNECTIONS, by local filmmaker, Rose Madrone, participate in a short, small group discussion, and then meet over 60 organizations – a healthy representation of those who help make Jefferson County such an amazing place to live, work, and celebrate. Each of our actions, no matter how small, add to the collective bond that strengthens the fibers of our social fabric!

Schedule:
12:45 PM: Doors open to the public
1:00 PM: Introduction & Welcoming
1:15 PM: INTERCONNECTIONS film
(15 minutes, second showing at 2:30 PM)
1:30 PM: Overview of represented organizations by sector
1:45 PM: Optional community building activity & discussion
2:00 PM – 5 PM: Non-profit and community group tables – come meet others, connect with community groups, and get involved

More information is available on the Connectivity Fair website:
https://L2020.org/connectivity

This event is open to the public and admission is free.

A Dog Party for Seniors

Georgia Towle, our next leader for the Pets to People program, has a vision for revitalizing the program of therapy dog visits to assisted living centers.  Every week will be a dog party!  Several dog teams at a time will bring joy to the residents.  If you and your dog are interested in getting involved, the first step is to get certified as an OMPP therapy dog team and, then to contact Georgia at 360-732-0908.

Recent visit to Victoria Place

Grady O’Neill makes a resident smile

READ to ROVER featured in Port Ludlow Voice magazine

Donna Geer, a Port Ludlow resident and READ to ROVER volunteer with her dog Cooper, contributed an article on READ to ROVER in the January 2023 Port Ludlow Voice magazine.  The article features several READ to ROVER volunteers who live in Port Ludlow.

Maggie Smith and Franna (top left)
Karin Nyrop and Abbey (bottom left)
Kristina Kelley and Finn (right)

The article can be found on-line at plvoice.org/read-to-rover

After School READ to ROVER Program at the Port Townsend Library

Melody Sky Weaver, Library Director, invites kids, ages 5-11, to come read with our wonderful READ to ROVER dogs at the Port Townsend Library after school on Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the Children’s room.

Dogs are wonderful listeners! We encourage parents, grandparents, and sitters to bring your kids and watch them enjoy reading with our dogs.

The Port Townsend Library is located at 1220 Lawrence St. For more information, call 360-385- 3181.

Pets to People Program Resuming

We are thrilled to be welcomed back into local assisted living homes with our therapy dogs! If you and your dog would like to make visits to seniors as a therapy dog team, please contact Georgia Towle, 360-752-0908, theluckydogtraining@gmail.com.

Many thanks to Lana O’Neill for shepherding the program up until Covid shut it down. Thanks to Georgia for stepping forward now that it can return.

READ to ROVER is at Port Townsend Library through July

Melody and Gryfin

Melody Sky Weaver, Library Director, and her OMPP certified therapy dog, Gryfin, invite kids, ages 5-11, to come read with Gryfin or one of our other wonderful READ to ROVER dogs at the Port Townsend Library on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 pm from now through July 26.

Dogs are wonderful listeners! Kids can bring their favorite book or choose one from the digital library and then build their reading skills over the summer by reading aloud for a 15-minutes session with a dog. We encourage parents, grandparents, and sitters to come and watch your kids enjoy reading with our great dogs.

The Port Townsend Library is located at 1220 Lawrence St. and the READ to ROVER sessions will be outdoors under a canopy. For more information, call (360) 385-3181.

Making of a Video

This past winter, Pet Pals supporters, Don and Sylvia White, offered a generous donation to fund a new project. After several discussions about our current needs, they were intrigued by the idea of creating a professional quality, promotional video to increase community awareness of our amazing READ to ROVER therapy dog program and to attract new volunteers who may be inspired by this unique way to serve our community and to do it with their dog.

Erin and Casey from Inle Media with Yogi

After some research, we selected Erin and Casey Roberts of Inle Media Company to work with us and guide us though the process. The planning has been intense but enlightening. The committee members working on this have gained an appreciation for all the details that go into making a short video – from crafting a story arc to wardrobe choices. The Roberts team sees some ways in which this project is somewhat different for them. Erin explains: “With some of our jobs we have to find a way to add emotion into the video, it’s clear that everyone involved with READ to ROVER has deep emotional connections to the program.” After visiting a school on READ to ROVER day, they were impressed “to see first hand how much the kids really enjoy it!”

Salish Coast Librarian, Denise Aedan, being interviewed

Filming has concluded with two full days – one day at Chimacum Creek Primary School and one day at Salish Coast Elementary School. This included filming reading sessions with the kids and other background shots. There were interviews with teachers, administrators, volunteers, parents, and some of the kids who have experienced READ to ROVER. The filming has yielded hours of material to be boiled down to a short video.

Christina and Sidney pose for the video

We are eager to see the results! We will announce the completion of the video and how you can view it in an upcoming eNews. Click here to subscribe to eNews. We will also post here on the website.