Rockford Road Library in Crystal was Rosie’s first library visit. My other therapy dog, Myrtle, was a Reading Education Assistance Dog so we primarily visited libraries and schools. Visiting the library was our favorite thing to do and I was anxiously looking forward to getting back in the library groove with my new therapy dog, Rosie. Well, Rosie let me know that library visits aren’t her thing.
When you read at the library, kids sign up to read with the therapy animal. There is no age limit. It is quite common for school-aged kids to have a younger brother or sister with them. All of that was fine and dandy for Myrtle, but Rosie had a strong reaction to a toddler, who was running around the room, squeezing, like toddlers do. Rosie looked at that child like he was a squirrel. Her ears when up, she tightened the leash and she was 100% focused on the toddler, not his older brother that was reading to her. I decided not to let the toddler meet Rosie.
Because of this, this will be our last library visit. Rosie’s comfort is my number one obligation and her stress level was too high with a small child. We’re incredibly fortunate to have 2 regular gigs that don’t include young children. One at an elementary school reading with 4th graders and the other at a hospital. Rosie loves those visits and I do too.
