Adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgi Lucy with her characteristic short stature, foxy face, and happy expression
2 photos of Lucy
Lucy
Handler: Amanda Foster
A playful Corgi with endless charm. Lucy's short stature and big personality make her a favorite with young readers.
Lucy's Story
Lucy the Pembroke Welsh Corgi proves that great therapy dogs come in all sizes. At just 10 inches tall and 25 pounds, she's perfectly eye-level with sitting children—a significant advantage for building connection. Handler Amanda Foster, an early childhood educator, chose Lucy specifically for this reason. Small children are often intimidated by larger dogs, but Lucy's compact size and perpetually wagging stub tail make her instantly approachable. Her herding instincts translate beautifully into therapy work: she naturally 'rounds up' wandering attention, circling back to re-engage distracted readers. At 5 years old, Lucy is the go-to dog for the youngest readers in the program, specializing in kindergarten through second grade.
A Heart-Warming Moment
Six-year-old Aiden was convinced he was 'too little' to read. 'Big kids read,' he insisted. 'I'm too small.' His teacher's creative solution: introduce him to Lucy, a small dog who did 'big dog work.' Aiden was fascinated. 'She's little like me!' he exclaimed. 'But she has a real job!' Amanda explained that Lucy helped kids learn to read—she was very important, even though she was small. Something clicked. Aiden began reading to Lucy with new determination. 'I'm gonna be like Lucy,' he announced. 'Small but important.' He practiced letter sounds while scratching her ears. He sounded out words while she snoozed. By year's end, Aiden was reading independently. His end-of-year report said, 'Aiden has grown tremendously—in confidence, not just height!'
Ready to meet Lucy?
Lucy and Amanda Foster are available for reading sessions at participating libraries. Sign up today to experience the magic of reading with a furry friend!
Questions About Our Program?
We'd love to tell you more about how our therapy dogs help children become confident readers.