Rosie Duca, 5, hugs Kia, a therapy greyhound, goodbye when her family’s appointment was over at the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Elizabeth Jensen, left, pets Sparrow during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Kyle Duca, left, reads a book to Sparrow and his daughter Rosie Duca, 5, during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. He said that they and another daughter, Lilly Duca, 2, have come to the events several times. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Anastasia Ames, left, and her dog Kia sit as Rosie Duca, 5, tells them about “Bunny’s First Snowflake” during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Elizabeth Jensen, center, reads a book to Kia, left, her son Thomas Jensen and Sparrow during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

While wearing a “Therapy Dog, Please Pet Me” neckerchief, Sparrow stretches out on the floor during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Rosie Duca, 5, left, plays with a therapy greyhound named Sparrow as Alice Clark, the dog’s owner, looks on during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

A therapy greyhound named Sparrow listens to Rosie Duca, 5, during the weekly reading with a therapy dog event on Wednesday in the second floor Children’s Room at the Gardiner Public Library. The Gardiner Public Library offers appointments for 15 minutes to read with a certified therapy greyhound on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal