You are looking at one of the most powerful reading super heroes available in the modern world. Hyperbole aside, there is a little magic and super-heroism in the job that Emma and her owner Joe Turner do for us at the Princeton Public Library. They are our very own Reading Therapy Dog team and they provide an important and heartwarming service to our younger patrons. For children struggling to read, a therapy dog such as Emma can help break a cycle of frustration and failure. How? Therapy dogs have been shown to provide the right mix of reassurance and motivational magic that can bring down blood pressure, as well as heart rate, and add a bit of fun to the process. Very quickly, reading with Emma and Joe becomes an event to anticipate with excitement rather than dread. We trade stress and anxiety that can hinder learning, for the antidote of a calm and friendly dog.
Emma and Joe have been interviewed, photographed and written about in local newspapers, The New York Times and newspapers in Europe and they have appeared on television news broadcasts. They remain humble and are cherished members of our volunteer community.
Joe and Emma are available every Monday afternoon from 4:00PM to 5:00PM.For an appointment please call 609-924-9529, ext 240. For more information: The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program was pioneered at Intermountain Therapy Animals in Salt Lake City, Utah.