Fletch reading with Charlotte Bittner at the library. Charlotte is the daughter of Mike and Rachel Bittner. Photo provided
FULLERTON — The community can meet Fletch on Monday at the Fullerton Public Library.
Fletch, the library’s new therapy dog, made his debut this week. Area children were able to read to him starting on Monday.
“I have wanted to have a therapy dog since I received my library certification as studies show that kids that read to dogs (a nonjudgmental audience) increase their reading ability and fluency,” Fullerton Library Director Laurel Marlatt said. “Many large cities have read to dog programs but rarely are these programs in greater Nebraska. I feel so blessed and honored to have Fletch and to offer this program to Fullerton and other small towns in the area.”
Fletch will be visiting the Edgerton Center in Aurora later this month and the Central City library in October.
Fletch is available to be read to after school on Mondays. Call the library to sign up and sign a waiver. The library will be having a Meet and Greet on Monday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Stop in and meet Fletch, the newest addition to the library staff.
The library received Fletch from Canine Companions, the largest provider of service dogs in the country.
“I learned of Canine Companions when my brother-in-law, who had MS and was wheelchair bound, received a free service dog from them,” Marlatt said. “Randy had neuropathy in his fingers and dropped items easily. One of the many things that Landon the service dog could do was to pick up credit cards, pens, and other items off the floor for Randy.”
The process to get Fletch to Fullerton took about 5 months.
“My younger son’s favorite movie is ‘Fletch’ with Chevy Chase and when I saw that the dog’s name was Fletch, I knew he was destined to be a part of our family,” she said.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen is set to proclaim September as National Service Dog month in Nebraska at the state capital next week.