Minnetonka Pooch Helps Local Kids Read

Long-time Minnetonka resident Jon Richie knew his 4-year-old Golden Retriever, Hugo was special. But it wasn’t until Hugo’s vet suggested that Hugo train as a therapy dog, that Richie knew just how special.

“The veterinarian mentioned it—a couple of times actually,” Richie said.

Following doctor’s orders, Richie and Hugo became certified with Therapy Dogs International— a non-profit organization that regulates and tests therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers across the county. Hugo recently passed the TDI temperament evaluation and the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test. 

“It’s just a nice thing to do. Hugo loves the attention. And it breaks down barriers too,” Richie said. Now TDI-certified, Richie and Hugo can visit nursing homes, hospitals, and schools as a registered therapy dog team.

Richie and Hugo now spend Monday mornings with second-graders at Cedar Ridge Elementary School. It’s part of a school program, “Paws Loves Books,” which second grade teacher Katie Tompkins started at Cedar Ridge four years ago, after she and her 6-year-old Daschund, Oliver, became therapy dog-certified.

“I started after school hours. But 23 of the 25 kids in my class signed up the first year,” Tomkins said. “There was so much interest.”

So much interest that the program is now incorporated into Cedar Ridge’s second grade curriculum. Every other week, each second-grader has a chance to spend 15 minutes reading to one of the six therapy dog teams who participate in the program, including Richie and Hugo.

“I like that they listen to me and spending time with them,” 8-year-old Aanvi said.  “When I pet them and get to read to them, it’s my favorite.”

Classmate Prabhav, 7, agreed. He said, “I like petting them and reading to them. It makes reading more fun because they are really soft.”

According to Tompkins, that’s exactly what the program is about.

“It definitely raises their motivation level to read. It’s a much more calming way to practice oral reading. It’s non-judgmental, the dog’s not going to point out your mistakes,” Tompkins said. "It's very calming."

Bettina VerHalen and her 3-year-old Standard Poodle, Faith, have been reading with kids here since the start of the school year. And according to VerHalen, the experience is just as beneficial for Faith, who was rescued from an abusive home, as it is for the children who read to her.

“This was a perfect job for her. The kids love her and she loves to do it,” VerHalen said.

Hugo, who loves to eat ham and run loose at Minnetonka’s Jidana Preserve, also loves the Monday-morning reading sessions.

“He gets a positive vibe from it. He loves people, he loves attention. He seems to know they are good little people,” Richie said. “I hope the kids appreciate the fact that there are a lot of nice dogs out there—that there is nothing really to be afraid of.”

Richie and Hugo may have just exceeded that goal—according to Tompkins, dog-fever is quickly spreading among the students.

“The kids love any book with animals. They love learning about animals right now,” she said.

“I want one but my mom said they are too hard to take care of,” Monique, 8, added—feverishly.