Therapy dogs brings comfort and confidence to young readers at Feasterville Library

On Saturday, May 10, Debbie Ballman from Trevose brought her therapy dog, Lia, a gentle black lab mix, to the Township Library of Lower Southampton in Feasterville for their weekly Barks and Books program.

Held every Saturday from 11 to 11:30 am, Barks and Books invites children five and older to read aloud to certified therapy dogs from Angels on a Leash in the library’s children's area; no registration required. The program helps young readers build confidence and feel more at ease with dogs. 

Debbie, a longtime participant, shared the journey that led her and Lia to this work. “She’s my dog, and after I rescued her, I thought she would make a great therapy dog due to her friendly temperament. So,I took her to all the training classes required to get her certified as a therapy dog at Canine Academy. Then we joined Angels on a Leash, a local organization consisting of volunteer members/dogs. We bring our therapy dogs to libraries, as well as nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and virtually anyplace where our dogs can bring comfort to others.”

For Debbie, the benefits of bringing Lia to the library go far beyond literacy. “Bringing her here increases the children's comfort level of being around dogs,” she explained. “Often children are timid or scared of dogs.” Although the reading program is recommended for children who are at least five, children of any age are welcome to stop by to pet Lia or just say “hi” to her. Sometimes Debbie reads to the younger children while Lia sits next to them wagging her tail in happiness.

Debbie adds, “For kids old enough to read to Lia, this experience helps them with their reading skills. They are more apt to read out loud to a dog because dogs are non-judgmental, and they love unconditionally.”

Whether it’s a bustling session of 20 kids or a smaller group, Lia's presence brings joy and calm to everyone she meets. And thanks to volunteers like Debbie and Lia, the library continues to be a welcoming place where literacy and love for animals come together.