Article by Stephanie Hobby

Photos by Keely Zimmermann

Most days, the children's section at the Billings Public Library is a lively, magical place, where imaginations spring to life through books and story times. A few times a month, a parade of dogs or cats is led into the Story Tower, and the atmosphere immediately feels even more cozy and welcoming, as children settle onto blankets with a therapy dog or a shelter cat to practice reading out loud. 

The goal of Paws to READ is to get children comfortable with reading to an audience, but these furry, four-legged listeners aren't there to correct mistakes or make children feel judged for going slow. They're just happy to be there, getting belly rubs, and listening as their readers make their way through a story or two. The first two Saturdays a month, therapy dogs from either Intermountain Therapy Animals or Pet Partners Therapy Animals visit the library for an hour, providing a low-stakes opportunity for kids to practice their reading skills in 15-minute shifts. 

"The dogs sit and listen, and they love it," said Children's Librarian Allynne Ellis, noting that reading out loud becomes much less intimidating when there is a wagging tail nearby. "It's a great opportunity for kids to be able to practice their reading in a very low-stress environment. Nobody is staring at them. Nobody is anxious," said Ellis. She noted that even well-meaning parents can unintentionally add pressure when they're distracted or anxious themselves. "That's all the animals are here for," she said. "There's no anxiety. There's no stress. They can just practice their reading, and the dogs are just so comforting." 

For Olivia Thiel, a bubbly and articulate 7-year-old, the dogs have been a game-changer. She was in kindergarten when she was diagnosed with amblyopia, a condition that affects her eyes' ability to work together and can get progressively worse and have serious consequences later in life if not treated early. Her parents quickly took action, and after countless hours of intense work with an eye therapist, her vision is back on track, but those years meant missed reading time that stifled her progress. Her mom, Megan Thiel, credits the therapy dogs with helping Olivia catch up. Thiel said she was just looking for ways to help Olivia catch up, and the library gave her more than that. "Coming to the library really gave her confidence," Thiel said. "She's doing great, but we made sure we came down here and hung out with the dogs..." 

"The first time I read to a dog, I felt really safe and comforted, and I didn't feel like I had to read so fast. He's not trying to correct you, and you can just read," Olivia said. Her younger sister, Violet, who is five and starting kindergarten, and her friend, Ellie Sterchi, a fellow second grader, also regularly attend and giggle when talking about how the dogs will sometimes lick the book you're reading or roll onto your lap. 

Lindsey Sterchi, Ellie's mom, started bringing her daughter after the Thiels invited them last year, and they have been hooked ever since. "Ellie loves reading and just loves dogs, and both of them together, it's just fun for her. The interaction with the dogs brightens her up and gets her so excited to read," Sterchi said. 

Linda Overstreet is a volunteer with Intermountain Therapy Animals and has been bringing her dogs for over 10 years, and says she is thrilled with the differences she has seen in the kids she works with. "I had a little boy who didn't want to read, but kept coming and started little by little and kept going, and now he's off and running," she said, adding that the work is deeply rewarding. "We've cried at different times, seeing the kids get better. They can't wait to pet the dogs. You can actually see that it's making a difference." 

If your child prefers a feline reading friend, the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter brings shelter cats to the library for Cat Tales on the fourth Friday of the month. "It's basically our read-to-a-cat program. As much as you can read to a cat," laughed Ellis. "The cats do what cats want to do, and the kids try to read to them. There's not as much reading as you might want, but that's okay, because coordinators talk about how to pick up cats, their body language, and what a cat is telling you." While it might not be as structured as the dog program, it's a beloved staple of the library, and the shelter has had success with finding homes for cats when a child bonds with one. Whether it's a dog or a cat curled up beside them, the point is the same: a captive, judgment-free audience willing to listen for as long as it takes to finish the story. 

If you go: More information can be found on the library's website, billingslibrary.org. Sign-ups are the day of the reads in the children's library. 

Originally printed in the October 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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