A 3-year-old collie with one ear perked up and the other flopped down has become one of the Madeira Branch Library's most popular literacy partners.
Eoin, a certified therapy dog, visits the branch at 7200 Miami Ave. every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for the Read With Eoin program, where children practice reading aloud to a furry, nonjudgmental audience. The free program launched in summer 2025 and is in its second year. One rule: no books about cats. Eoin reportedly disapproves.
Amanda Seifert, the Madeira Branch's Youth Services supervisor, told City Lifestyle in a profile published July 27, that watching children gain confidence and joy in reading is the most rewarding part of the program. She said it gives kids time and space to practice reading aloud and to interact with animals, both of which can be intimidating.
During a typical session, library staff may open with a book or two before inviting families to sit with Eoin. Children read aloud or silently while petting and cuddling the collie. Some kids who start out shy eventually end up side-by-side with Eoin, a book on their lap.
They've also put on puppet shows for him.
How Eoin became a therapy dog
Handler Ken Wegenhart decided to certify Eoin after watching the collie interact with a child with special needs at their local church's preschool.
"The kid is grabbing Eoin around the neck, pulling on him just giggling away and having the best time," Wegenhart told City Lifestyle. "Eoin was just so calm, so gentle; he knew that he had to treat this child differently."
That moment led Wegenhart to Canines for Christ of Southwest Ohio, an AKC-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Hamilton that certifies therapy dog teams. Beyond the Madeira library, Eoin visits nursing homes, hospitals and schools.
Wegenhart recalled one school visit where Eoin sat motionless beside a teenage boy for more than a minute. When the dog finally moved on, the boy approached Wegenhart and said he'd been having a bad day, and the dog knew it.
Building reading confidence
Seifert described Eoin's presence as helping reduce anxiety and encouraging participation from kids with low confidence in their reading skills. She said the program creates a space where children can socialize without expectations, allowing for organic interactions.
The Madeira branch's effort fits into a strong summer for the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library system. During June, 28,410 kids and teens signed up for the system-wide Summer Reading program, an 8% increase over the prior year, according to CHPL.
How to participate
The program is free and does not appear to require registration, though families can contact the branch at 513-369-6028 or [email protected] to confirm.
Upcoming community dates:
- Thursday, July 30: Read With Eoin, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Madeira Branch Library, 7200 Miami Ave.
The library has not confirmed whether Thursday sessions continue past July 31. Families can call or email the branch to verify the August schedule.
