Kids! Kindergarten and older, reserve your 15 minute slot to read aloud to Jackson, our sweet Reading Dog! Bring your own books, or choose from ours.

Email April at awanner@essexpl.org and request the time slot you would like and she will confirm. RSVP early to get the time frame you most want!

Slots are as follows: 4:30, 4:45, 5:00, 5:15pm.

Jackson is a certified search and rescue dog on the MARK9 team. The team is a 100% volunteer team that responds to state police, local police and local fire's calls for assistance on a search. Team members must pass rigorous testing to be members including but not limited to: canine good citizen, canine aggression testing, obedience testing, agility testing, and more all before they even learn how to search for lost people.

Jackson, his brother Bowyer and Jessica his trainer have traveled to schools all over eastern Massachusetts to read a book titled "When You Wander" to kids pre-k through 8th grade. The dogs love to be the center of attention and have never met a child they didn't immediately fall in love with. Jessica also teaches children about the proper ways to ask to pet a dog and how to actually pet a dog for their safety.