The Reading with Rover Program is back in Friendswood ISD. This is Bales Intermediate’s second year to coordinate the Bales Reading with Rover program.  Some returning faces and some new faces were at the first meeting on September 22 in the campus library.
          This program is designed to build confidence and joy in reading. Students are invited to come read to a dog, ferret or Guinea pig each Wednesday after school.
          The animals are part of The Faithful Friends, a dog therapy group, who visit hospitals and nursing homes. In effect, the talented listeners (dogs) work two jobs.
          This year 12 students will be able to join the Wednesday group. The program proved very successful last year, according to Bales librarian Laura Trellue. It is Trellue who directs the program on campus.
          She heard about using therapy dogs to help students read from a public librarian in Arizona. It was just a matter of finding the animals.
          “The Faithful Friends have been a wonderful group to work with and are anxious to start with the children next week. Some of the dogs were even looking for their child,” Trellue said.
          Rosemary Machtemes, Reading Specialist, and Traci Lowe, Special Education teacher, also assist with the program and coordinate the students. 
          So, if you hear dogs barking at Bales, it must be Wednesday.