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CRANBURY: Doggone good books

By Natalia Knochowski, Staff Writer
   CRANBURY — Four children snuggle up to George, an 8-year-old chocolate Lab, and get ready to read to him all sorts of adventures from the many books around them.
   This is Reading with Rover at the Cranbury Public Library.
   Although this may not seem like a typical occurrence at a library, it actually is, said Jan Murphy, the youth and community outreach librarian at Cranbury Public Library.
   ”A lot of public libraries do this,” she said.
   George and his owner and handler, Suzanne McCoy, of Hamilton, are part of an organization called The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs Inc.
   According to Lynn Livingston, the administrative assistant at Bright and Beautiful, the nonprofit organization was created by June Golden in Morris Plains in 1999. It is now a national organization.
   Bright and Beautiful sends out trained therapy dogs to a variety of different types of places, such as libraries, hospitals and assisted living facilities, in order to provide emotional support to a variety of people, Ms. Livingston said. Dogs must be at least 1 year old in order to be considered as candidates, then must pass the organization’s test.
   Ms. Livingston said there is a range of ways pets can provide therapy to people. For example, for children struggling with reading, the dogs can relax them and provide motivation.
   ”It’s a nonthreatening way for children to practice reading out loud,” said library Director Marilynn Mullen.
   Ms. Mullen said Reading with Rover helps the children be confident with their reading.
   According to Ms. Mullen, this is the second year Cranbury Public Library is having Reading with Rover. Children from first to third grades come in and spend 10 to 15 minutes reading out loud to the dog.
   It depends on how many children show up, Ms. Mullen said, but the children usually read one on one with the dog, The handler is present while the children are reading.
   Ms. McCoy said she decided to get George trained as a therapy dog because of his calm disposition.
   ”He doesn’t bark and enjoys people petting him,” Ms. McCoy said.
   So when she was researching training schools, she came across Bright and Beautiful.
   Ms. McCoy said George took an eight-week-long course. The course, Ms. McCoy said, introduces dogs to new sounds and equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers and crutches.
   After the course’s completion, George passed Bright and Beautiful’s mandatory test and got certified in February.
   With Bright and Beautiful, Ms. McCoy said there is an annual membership fee, and the dogs are insured.
   Usually, an organization contacts Bright and Beautiful, requesting a therapy dog, and then Bright and Beautiful sends e-mails to members. Members who are interested can answer the e-mails, Ms. McCoy said.
   Ms. McCoy said that, in addition to the library, she also takes George to a day care center and an assisted living facility.
   Recalling a past experience at the assisted living facility, Ms. McCoy said there was a woman who loved seeing George.
   ”Her face always lit up,” Ms. McCoy said. “It makes you feel good that you’re making people happy.”
   And at the library, there seems to be a similar feeling.
   ”They usually lay on him while they’re reading,” Ms. McCoy said of the Reading with Rover nights.
   The Cranbury Public Library will be having two more Reading with Rover events this fall. The next event is scheduled for Oct. 27.