Bruno the Bookworm

Bruno

He's a gentle soul and an excellent listener.

He is also a show stopper who inadvertently takes control of whatever room he saunters into. I guess you could call him a Renaissance man except for one significant fact -  he is a dog.  Bruno, a Great Dane, uses his patience and presence to help humans manage some of life's hurdles.

As a certified therapy dog, eight and a half year old Bruno regularly visits local rehab centers, assisted living centers and elementary schools and makes a difference every time.

His latest foray into this generous life mission takes place at the Malvern Library twice weekly where he sits with youngsters transitioning from being those who are read to into those who read. I watched in wonder as 5 year old Sadie and 8 year old Stephen took turns earnestly reading to the 185 pound canine.  Bruno took his place in the library program room and received his youthful visitors with a mastered aplomb.

Siblings, Sadie and Daniel pat Bruno

Sadie arrived armed with a book she wrote and illustrated about colors and animals. The contrast between her petite frame and Bruno's elongated girth melted away as Sadie's little voice earnestly read page after page.  As she completed each one, Sadie turned it toward Bruno so he could have full view of her work.  She and her 20 month old brother Daniel patted Bruno and spoke to him as just another friend in the room.  It was a heart melting scene. 

Stephen reads to Bruno

Stephen, dressed in Scooby Doo pajamas and a sea blue shark robe, read "When Dinosaurs Came With Everything"to the ever patient Bruno. To say that animals ruled the room is an understatement.  The young reader joked right off the bat when he announced one of the book's authors was named David Small, telling Bruno, "That's funny because there is nothing small about dinosaurs!"  There also was nothing small about Stephen's enthusiasm, let alone the creature he was speaking to.  Stephen almost performed the book as he pored over dinosaur details.  The young reader also deliberately showed his canine companion each page after he read it, making sure Bruno did not miss one. 

When Bruno laid his head on the carpet, his human partner, Sam Schleman, gently explained to Stephen that, "Bruno is more of a listener than a looker." Stephen agreed and  steamed on, unwavering. As he reached the final pages, the youngster lifted his right hand and caressed Bruno's paw in a gesture that reassured both he and his new found friend.  

Sam is Bruno's constant companion and clearly savors his canine's work.  "He such a sweet dog with a great disposition," Sam noted.  "And he is great with children."  Bruno and Sam found each other after the dog's first owner had to move.  "He lived with a 3 year old child so had firsthand experience with youngsters," Sam explained. 

After Sam adopted Bruno and recognized his consistent gentility, he asked the former owner where the dog was trained.  To his surprise, Sam learned Bruno's demeanor was of his own making - he had never received any training.  "He has always simply been a sweet natured dog," he added.  Bruno became certified as a therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International's "Tail Wagging Tutors" program. Aside from the dog's good health, the association tests many benchmarks, including reactions to other dogs, children and various distractions along with meeting strangers.  Bruno breezed through the process.
http://www.tdi-dog.org/OurPrograms.aspx?Page=Children+Reading+to+Dogs

Bruno and Sam

Sam then began to contact places where his friend could be of service. One particularly poignant story Sam shared was upon a visit to Bryn Mawr Rehab.  A young man recently admitted with a brain/spinal injury had only the ability to open and shut his eyes.  Bruno walked into the room toward the window, looked outside and then turned toward the patient.  Without prompting, the Great Dane walked to the bed, rested his sizable head on the young man's chest. "The nurse moved the boy's hand on top of Bruno's head and just let it rest there,"Sam explained. "It was pretty  powerful." Months later, Sam and Bruno saw the same young man being pushed in a wheelchair by his mom, and the boy could pat the dog himself.  The connection was complete.

Sam contacted the Chester County Library to offer Bruno's services and Malvern Director, Rosalie Dietz, loved the idea.  She invited Sam and Bruno to stop by and immediately saw the perfect pairing for young readers who frequent the branch's popular storytime program.  Parents who are interested in having their children try out their reading skills on Bruno are encouraged to sign-up. http://www.ccls.org/cwo/Find_a_Library/Malvern

Sam is well versed in being the sidekick to a celebrity and marvels at Bruno's popularity. "He's like a rock star - everyone knows his name," Sam offers, still a bit surprised.  This stardom comes with the 21st century cache - a Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bruno/107283732633019  I've come to accept that 91 friends on my own Facebook page represents a miniscule amount (I choose to see it as my high level of friend selectivity.) However, this Great Dane wordlessly puts a sledgehammer to my human total with his impressive number of followers. 

Sam summarizes his four legged friend's impact in an understated way, "It's a lot better than sitting around."  It seems to me it is so much more from a dog who's big presence makes an even bigger impact in his little town.