Learning to read can be a grueling experience for young children. Classroom learning can sometimes induce anxiety for children who might be more advanced than others. Fortunately, as with all things, dogs can fix it.

On Mondays from June 15 to Aug. 24, kids from ages 5 to 12 could sign up at the Southworth Library for the "Read to a Therapy Dog" program. Back for its fourth summer, this program was developed to help new or struggling readers improve their reading skills by reading aloud to one of three therapy dogs.

Their roster of certified therapy dogs include Buckeye, Face and Katygirl.

According to children’s librarian Katie Redfearn, the idea behind this program is that therapy dogs provide a comfortable, judgment-free audience who won’t laugh or comment if the reader stumbles on their words.

“The idea is the dog doesn’t laugh if they fumble over a word, the dog doesn’t correct them,” said Redfean. “Kids can be tough, especially if you’re reading aloud in class. That’s a source of anxiety for a lot of kids so this is a safe environment for those kids to practice.”

Monday was the final day of the program before school starts. Excitable children toting books and their siblings filtered in and out of the reading room all morning.

The companion of the day was Katygirl and her owner Liz McQuiggan. Katygirl, a reserved but affectionate dog, lazed about as each child read to her, McQuiggan providing encouragement and gentle corrections when needed.

From tales about elephants and cheese to the three little wolves and the big bad pig, Katygirl listened patiently, resting beside the kids. Story time was only interrupted by the occasional younger sibling toddling by or a break for a scratch behind the ears.

Liz McQuiggin and Katygirl are originally from St. Michaels, MD, where they began their work in therapy programs. Now 10 years old, Katygirl was found by McQuiggan when she was just over two years old. Her dog had always been laidback and gentle and so McQuiggan thought it would be worthwhile to have Katygirl certified as a therapy dog so she could bring happiness and affection to others.

Katygirl was first registered through Pets On Wheels, a Maryland-based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing therapy animals to facilities ranging from classrooms to hospice centers.

“She’s just the best girl for this,” says McQuiggan. “We go to Brandon Woods and, if the patients aren’t able to go to her, she jumps up on the bed. I wish more people would take their dogs and do things like this.”

As one of Southworth’s most popular programs, it’s received a consistent turnout from week to week. Many people are waitlisted due to high demand. Though signups are required for each 15-minute session, the program sees many familiar faces return each week.

Redfearn notes that the program isn’t just fun, it really works. “There’s one little boy who’s been coming in the evening and even the dog’s owner and [the boy’s] grandmother who brings him have noticed him getting more comfortable, getting better at sounding his words out and things like that.”