Free reading for the dogs in Myrtle Beach

Talia Ben-Pazi sits in the corner of the upstairs reading room at the Chapin Memorial Library, one hand on her "Curious George" book, the other entwined in the soft, clean, wavy fur of Romeo, who lies relaxed at her side.

It's impossible to know if Romeo the golden retriever is actually listening to the story of a curious little monkey and the man in the yellow hat, if he just likes the sound of the 6-year-old's voice as she reads out loud to him, or if he's just happy and relaxed, thinking about chasing rabbits through the tall grass or what his next snack will be.

But he seems to enjoy it. And the kids who take part in the Myrtle Beach library's Reading Buddies program love it.

Every Thursday afternoon for the rest of the summer, Romeo and his sister Sugar will be in the library from 3 to 4 p.m. as eight children take turns reading out loud to one dog for 15 minutes each.

"We do read at home, but this is something different," said Maria Cortez of her son Emilio's weekly reading to the trained therapy dogs. "It's good for him to practice."

This is the first summer the free reading program has been offered in Myrtle Beach, and it has been so successful, the library added another dog and handler for an hour on Fridays. All the Thursday reading slots are booked for the summer, and the Friday appointments are filling up fast, said Jen Nassar, assistant librarian in the children's room.

The dogs' owners, Jennie and Rick Hines of Myrtle Beach, approached the library about offering their services for free after Jennie Hines had taken one of her dogs to an elementary school in North Myrtle Beach and seen the response.

"I saw such an improvement in the children's reading skills, and they weren't intimidated by reading to the dogs," she said. "I just knew that's where I wanted my dogs to work."

Youth librarian Sue Ellen Wilson said the dogs are safe, nonjudgmental listeners who won't get up and leave or get busy with something else. And the dogs like the attention they get.

Sugar and Romeo are trained through Love on a Leash, a therapy-dog program based in California. They learn to be calm, to work with wheelchairs and other assistance apparatus, and though they don't have to be any special breed, they do have to be able to learn to work safely with children, the ill and the elderly, and to adjust to new places and people immediately. They have worked in nursing homes and hospitals as well as schools.

Sugar and Romeo couldn't be more suited to the task.

As soon as Abby King sits down, Sugar lays down alongside her, head down, eyes closed, a serene look on her face. Soon Sugar rolls over on her side for a snooze.

"I always ask the children, 'Don't you fall asleep when your mom reads to you?'" Jennie Hines said.

Abby King doesn't mind if Sugar naps. She can't have a pet at home because her dad and brother are allergic, so she's excited for any time she gets to spend with the dogs, her mom, Lisa King, said. Plus, the program keeps Abby reading, her mom said.

"They lick me sometimes, and I like to pet them," Abby King said of her reading buddies. She said Sugar really listens, and while she's reading a school text to the dog, she said Sugar might prefer a story about dogs.

Nassar said some children have anxiety about reading, and the dogs can help them improve their skills and maintain or expand their reading abilities in a noncompetitive environment. Some don't particularly like to read, but might find their favorite book through this program simply because they want to hang out with a dog for the afternoon.

Other children are already strong readers but will only get better by spending at least part of their summer break practicing, she said.

Plus, said Tamar Ben-Pazi, Talia's mom, the cool library is a good place to spend a hot afternoon.

"It's a great resource," she said. "The librarians are amazing. You can ask them for anything, and they'll find it."

Nassar said she doesn't care why the kids come, just that they do. Reading improves vocabulary, promotes learning and helps children succeed in school and in life, she said.

"If a dog inspires a child to read," she said, "I'm all for it. It's something we should all encourage."