Both pets and people alike benefit from the Niles District Library’s Special Edition program.
Geared toward those with special needs, members meet once a week for activities like watching movies, making crafts and reading stories. Additionally, each month a member from an animal organization brings in pets to socialize with Special Edition members.
On Thursday, Sebrina Tingley, of Edwardsburg the Director of Operations for PetsConnect, brought three cats and plenty of cat toys to play in the library’s “Patti’s Place.”
The nonprofit foster pet organization for dogs, cats and birds, provides a home for pets when local shelters are at capacity.
Tingley said PetsConnet decided to partner with the library
during the program because it offered a chance for community outreach.
“We should not be just about the animals,” she said. “We should be about reaching out to the community.”
About five members at a time sat in a circle and gave the foster pets some playtime.
Kris Vanbar, of Niles, said she does not have any of her own pets. Picking up a feather topped toy, Vanbar smiled as she played with a black and grey cat named Blossom.
“They were good,” Vanbar said of the cats.
Across the room, Shelley Abair shared a similar experience. She grinned as she held a cat named Precious.
Ami Schiffbauer, the Library program manager said Laura Hollister, another library employee created Special Edition. The program has existed since late last summer, drawing between 20 to 40 people with special needs participate in the program. Hollister saw a lack of available community programs for those with special needs and she wanted to do something about it, Schiffbauer said.
The monthly animal visits often see the highest attendance rates, Schiffbauer said.
“It is a good chance for people to get out into the community and do something and socialize,” she said.
The library staff felt animals would be a good addition to the program because pets are easy to connect with.
“It is something people of all abilities and all levels can connect with,” Schiffbauer said.
Though the program was geared toward those with special needs, anyone is welcome to visit the animals.
So far members have had the chance to interact with therapy dogs, play with puppies and kittens and next month, Pets Connect will bring in two cockatoos.
Creating programs that utilize the library as a community center is important, Schiffbauer said.
“We really want to welcome as many people as possible,” Schiffbauer said. “And be a community center for everyone in Niles.”