As part of March is Reading Month, Leonard Elementary students spent some time Monday reading to local dogs. Pictured is first-grader Connor Nelson reading Dr. Seuss? ‘There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!? to pooches Sport (left) and Doozi. Sport is owned by Metamora resident Donna Colt and Doozi by Pat Marsh (shown right), of Oxford. Both owners and canines are part of the New Jersey-based Therapy Dogs International, a volunteer group that provides qualified handlers and therapy dogs to visit places like nursing homes, hospitals, schools and libraries. Reading to the pups
helps build students? confidence ‘because they’re not in a big
classroom atmosphere? and ‘the pets make it more relaxing? for
them, according to Colt.