- December 5, 2025
Andrew Jones, 8, reads to Lillie. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aniya Petty, 5, and Jordan Petty, 7, read to FHS dog, Dalla. Humane Society member Dodie Axne sits behind them. Photo by Paige Wilson
Isabella Derie, 9, plays with Lillie. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler Humane Society dog, Dalla, rests as children read to her. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aniya Petty, 5, holds up her PAWS to Read booklet, pointing out what dogs she's read to. Photo by Paige Wilson
Mickey plays with Sophia Derie, 8. Photo by Paige Wilson
Andrew Jones, 8, Isabella Derie, 9, and Scarlett Derie, 11, play with Lillie. Photo by Paige Wilson
Bianca Lopez, 9, pets Char-lee as her family reads a book out loud. Photo by Paige Wilson
Scarlett Derie, 11, poses for a photo with Char-lee with books in front of them. Photo by Paige Wilson
Isabella and Sophia Derie read to Lillie. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler Humane Society dog, Mickey. Photo by Paige Wilson
FHS dog, Mickey, sits with Sophia Derie, 8, as she reads a book out loud. Photo by Paige Wilson
Jack Furry, 6, laughs as Lillie licks his knee. Photo by Paige Wilson
Morgan and Emery Murray play with Lillie, the FHS dog, as Peyton Furry reads a book. Photo by Paige Wilson
Jordan Petty, 7, plays with Char-lee. Photo by Paige Wilson
April-May is one of the ambassador dogs designated to the PAWS to Read events. Photo by Paige Wilson
Murray sisters, Emery, 3, and Morgan, 5, play with Lillie. Photo by Paige Wilson
Andrew Jones, 8, reads to Tanner. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sophia Derie, 8, reads a book out loud. Photo by Paige Wilson
Reading doesn't have to be ruff!
To encourage reading and create a positive learning environment, the Flagler County Public Library partners with the Flagler Humane Society once a week for PAWS to Read. Children can visit the library's main branch, located at 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, every Wednesday from 4-5:30 p.m. to choose books and read them to friendly dogs from the Flagler Humane Society.
These "ambassador dogs" are trained to be loving companions for the kids, said Bonnie Palatini with Flagler Humane Society.
Each time a child reads a book to one of the dogs, he or she earns a sticker to put beside the dog's name in a booklet. This system encourages children to keep returning to the program so they can fill up their booklets.
