Dog Tales helps children’s literacy with furry friends in Finch Fieldhouse Saturday

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Sometimes, animals make the best listeners.

Dog Tales is a program designed to improve children’s reading skills with the use of therapy dogs. Reading to dogs can be less intimidating than reading to other children in a classroom setting, giving children more confidence and boosting self-esteem.

“We strive to improve literacy rates by providing fun and creative reading opportunities for children, such as First Book Day,” said Clarkston senior Meredith Clark, president of First Book-CMU, which hosted the event.

The event was held Saturday afternoon in Finch Fieldhouse. Mount Pleasant resident Margy Riemer brought two dogs with her, Murphy and Boomer, who have served as therapy dogs for 6 years.

“I brought Boomer and he was like, I am so in love with this job,” Riemer said.

First Book Day had a variety of events in addition to Dog Tales, including arts and crafts, reading with heroes, raffles, a book walk and bottle bowling.