>> From the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. >> Who here is from the Moten Elementary School. All of you. Terrific. Well, thanks for coming to the Young Readers Center. [Inaudible] part of the Library of Congress. Has any one of you been here before? >> Oh boy. >> Great. The Young Readers Center is a special place because it's for children up to age 16 years old. When you're 16, you can get a reader's card, and that means you can go to different reading rooms in the library and read books that the library has. The Library of Congress is the biggest library in the world, but we are not. We are the Young Readers Center, and we're part of the library, but we're much smaller and the difference is you don't need a reader's card. So if you come back to visit us, we have lots of books. We have three rooms. And we have books in every room for all ages. And if you come back and you find a book you want to read or have somebody read it to you, you can just take it off the shelf and sit in a [inaudible] place and read. That's why we're special. And the other reason is that we have programs for children like you in which we invite special guests. And today we're really lucky. This is a program of an organization called Everybody Wins D.C.. They're our partner, and they have suggested that your school be included, and we are introducing to you an author of a book called Dozer's Run, A Dog's Story of -- I'm getting this wrong -- A Dog's Story of His Race. Debra will correct me with the right title. So this is Debra Levy. She's the author, and Rosanna [inaudible] is the owner and trainer of Dozer, and that's who the story is about. [Inaudible] at the end of the program, you'll be able to very carefully pet Dozer, and we'll take a group photo with him, but between now and the end of the program if you don't mind, [inaudible]. So now I'm going to introduce Debra [inaudible]. >> Debby Levy: I'm Debby Levy, but you knew that because I was just introduced. Rosanna. >> Hi, guys. >> Debby Levy: Dozer. Are you all in second grade? >> Yes. >> Debby Levy: Yes? Are there any first graders here? >> No. >> Debby Levy: Okay. Well, we're a very intimate group. I just might sit down so I'm not looking down on you. I'm very happy to be here, very happy to meet people from Moten Elementary School, andI'm going to be talking about -- let me do a click here -- I'm going to be talking about Dozer and the book, which is called Dozer's Run, A True Story of A Dog and His Race. I'm going to be talking a little bit about writing books. I'm going to be talking about -- let's see -- cats and crickets and rabbits, and you will see. Now, Dozer is a very special dog. And although he is right here today, I do love looking at him up on that screen because he's such a good looking guy, don't you think? Does anybody here like dogs? Oh, okay. Wait a minute. Me, too. Does anybody have a dog? Really? Well, since we're such a small group, give me your dog's name if you would, yes. [ Inaudible ] Yoey? What's your dog's name? >> Rocky. >> Debby Levy: Rocky. What's your dog's name? [ Inaudible ] You'll get it. It'll come to you. What's your dog's name? >> Zeuss. >> Debby Levy: Zeuss? Zeuss? I love it. What's your dog's name? [ Inaudible ] >> Kujo. What's your dog's name? [ Inaudible ] >> Black? Is he black? Beautiful? Yeah. Beautiful coat of black? Yes. What's your dog's name? >> Jack? >> Debby Levy: Jack: Very simple and -- okay, you remembered. What's the dog's name? [ Inaudible ] Ang? Okay. Okay. Well, I'm glad you told me your names. Sometimes I collect names because then you never know in a book that I write in the future, and I've written a lot of books, I might remember one of these names and use them in a book. So stay tuned. So back to Dozer. There's the book I wrote about him, and I'll be talking more about them. And Dozer is famous. He's famous. He's very special. Yeah, he's famous. I'm going to tell you about that. He's also special because -- do you think any old dog can go into the Library of Congress? No. Do you think dogs can normally go to hospitals? Dozer can. Do you think dogs can normally go to schools? Dozer can. He's on his way some place right there in that picture. Here he is on television. He's been on television across the land, across the United States. He has so many friends and fans. Dozer has seven -- more than 17,000 friends on Facebook. But don't -- that's his Facebook page right there. I thought if I told you he had more than 17,000 fans and friends you wouldn't believe me so I included the number that's on the internet right there. >> And I'm also one of his friends. >> Debby Levy: You're one of his friends. Thank you very much. He also has friends and real people like these people who got to meet him and many, many more. So we've established that we all like dogs or most of us, but let us not neglect other animals. Does anybody here like cats? I like cats. I have a cat. That's my cat. I wrote a poem about a cat. We're going to -- I'm going to give you time to ask questions after I've blabbed a little bit, okay? But there will be time for questions. So I wrote a poem about a cat, not this cat. But that cat in that book, which I also wrote which is right here. Maybe I'll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight, and I'm going to start -- we're going to start with me reading this poem because there's a role for you all in this poem, too. The poem is about a cat, yes. But it's also about a cricket. And a cricket makes what kind of sound? Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. Am I right? All right. Can you chirp? When I go like this on the poem, when I raise my hand, that's your time to say the line in the poem, which is chirping. So you're going to chirp. Let's practice. Okay? Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. What? Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. One more practice. Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. Oh, that's beautiful. Here we go. The poem is called The Cricket. The Cricket. Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. The cricket chirped. I thought it sounded cute. Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. Okay. Enough, now scoot. It didn't scoot. I couldn't sleep neither could Chester, my cat. I nudged Chester off the bed and said, "Go, put an end to that." Chester pounced, and I called out, "Swat it, Chester. Swat it!" I cheered my cat [inaudible] the dark I thought that he had got it. Chester got the cricket, yes. It jumped into his mouth. But didn't stop and hopped inside of Chester heading south. Once the cricket reached his belly, Chester gave a burp and ever since when Chester purs, he goes chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. Now, I love poems that rhyme, and that poem in that last verse, what word rhymed with chirp? Burp. Burp. Once the cricket reached his belly, Chester gave a burp and ever since when Chester purs, he goes chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. Can you think of any other words that rhyme with chirp? Yeah, what do you think rhymes with chirp? [ Inaudible ] [Inaudible]? Is that a word? No. Slurp. Good one because I was about to say I can't think of a single word that rhymes with chirp, and there you go. You did. Well done. And you know what? We're all natural poets in a way. So if I were to make up a poem about an apple and I say an apple is red and round, you plant its seed in the -- >> Ground. >> Debby Levy: Ground. The seed grows into a tree. New apples for you and me. We're all natural poets. It's amazing. Okay. Enough about cats and crickets. Rabbits. Any of you have rabbits? Yeah? Do you have a rabbit as a pet? Well, I don't. But I wrote a book about a rabbit. Oh, do you think this book that I wrote about a rabbit that I called Tab for some reason is on the library shelf here at the Library of Congress? It's not. You think it's on anybody's shelf at all? No. I wrote it when I was little, though, because even when I was little, that's me being little. I was interested in writing books. And so I started writing books. Here's one that I wrote when I was 7 years old. Something Happens to Tuggy. That's not Tuggy on the cover. That's Tuggy, Tuggy the tugboat. And let's see. Here's another, The Captured Boys. I know what you're thinking. You just -- I already know that what you're thinking is that this woman cannot draw or color. And it is true. I'm not an artist. So get that out of the way. You don't have to feel sorry for me because I know that it's the case. So this is my first book that's a nonfiction book called Fish. Who here can tell me what nonfiction is? What's nonfiction? [ Inaudible ] Something that's -- something that's real, yes. A nonfiction book is a book that's an information book, that's true. It tells a true story. My Dozer book tells a true story. What's the opposite of a nonfiction book? Yes. A fairtale is not a -- is a -- the opposite of nonfiction. What else? Fiction is also the more general term. So fish is supposed to be my first effort at nonfiction and so for there are many kinds of fish, there are much more than listed. So far so good. Yeah. Nice drawings, huh? You know when they're dead because he lies on its sides on the bottom. Well now. You could spend an entire week in school learning about all the mistakes in the sentence that I wrote. Who here can tell me something wrong, some of my mistakes in my sentence? You know when they're dead because he lies on its sides on the bottom. Anybody? Yes. >> Sides. >> Debby Levy: He lies on its sides. Can you lie on both your sides at the same time? Kind of a problem. What else? [ Inaudible ] You can lie on one side at a time. An here's another thing. You know when they're dead -- I say -- yes. >> Its. >> Debby Levy: So I say he lies on its sides on the bottom. So here I'm talking about fish, and I'm talking about they as if there's lots of them. I'm talking about he, and I'm talking about it. I should have chosen just one way to talk, shouldn't I? If it's a he, then he lies on his side on the bottom. But you know what? This leads me to one of the most important things that I've learned in writing books. And that is the importance of making mistakes. Do you ever make mistakes? Yeah. Yeah, we all make mistakes. And when you make mistakes, you know that you're doing something new usually. You're trying something new. That's a good thing. You make mistakes. You learn from your mistakes. So I encourage you all not to be afraid to make mistakes. It's usually because you're trying something new and you're going to learn and very often you can also correct your mistakes and make them good. So one more page. Fish tanks should not be carried. A lot of the fish get dizzy. Okay, this is a nonfiction book. True or false. Fish tanks should not be carried a lot if fish get dizzy. What do you think? True? False? What do you think? True. What does anybody else think? What do you think? False. I have no idea. I made it up, which you're not supposed to do when you write nonfiction, but I have learned and I do try not to do that anymore. Okay. So Dozer's saying, "Are you kidding me, already? Enough with the crickets and the fish and the cat. Let's talk about me." So rather then just talk about him, I'm going to read you part of this book, Dozer's Run, which I wrote about him with Rosanna's help, and this is a book you're going to take with you, your own copies, when you leave here today. So are we ready? I'm ready. Dozer's Run, A True Story. And I'm going to show the pages up here, then I'll read it here. It was a dark -- it was a damp and drizzly Sunday morning in Dozer and Chica's neighborhood. Who knew what delicious smells last night's rain washed in? Who knew what treasures the storm blew into the yard? So the two best friends stretched out after a good night's sleep in the barn, shook themselves off and began to investigate. Out in the street a runner ran by. Then, another runner and another and another and another and another. Where were those runners running? Dozer and Chica looked at each other. Then they got back to their exploring. Was this big branch here yesterday? A raccoon was there. Wow, the whiff of wet wood, frog here in this hollow, more runners ran by. Where are all those runners running ? "We stay in the yard," Chica said with her eyes. Dozer's eyes were on the runners. "We belong in the yard," Chica's eyes said. Plus, we haven't had breakfast yet. Later. We'll walk with our people. "But the runners are running now, Chica," Dozer said with his big swishy tail. They must be chasing something wonderful." "More wonderful than the flavor of frog and the wreak of raccoon? More wonderful than breakfast, Dozer? Dozer did love his breakfast. But he had to find out what the runners were chasing. He dashed out of the yard. "I'll be back, Chica!" Follow the leader. But who was the leader? Dozer followed his nose and smelled a pocket full of gummies, shorts with a scent of strange dog, stinky socks, tangy trailmix, sneakers that once stepped in never mind. Dozer followed his ears. He heard laughter, whistles, wonderfulness. And lots of leaders. Dozer could be a leader, too. Dozer kept his head high and his tail proud. Around him, people were drooping. Some were slowing down. These runners needed him. Come on, one foot after another. You can do it. We'll be some place wonderful soon. Run, run, run, run, run, run. Suddenly, Dozer heard clapping and cheering. He slowed down to investigate. He looked right. He looked left. He looked straight ahead and oh, Dozer sped up and scampered across the finish line. "See? I knew we could do it. I knew we were running some place wonderful." The other runners smiled and chatted and high fived. They all got big shiny metals hung on broad ribbons. Friends and families greeted them. Everyone was happy and crowd. But no one greeted Dozer. No one smiled and chatted and high fived with Dozer. No one gave him a big shiny metal. No one even gave him a teeny tiny dog treat. Oh, suddenly, this wasn't so wonderful. It wasn't wonderful at all. So Dozer ran on. Morning turned into afternoon turned into evening. There was no leader for Dozer to follow. There were no followers for Dozer to lead. Dozer was alone. He was alone all night long. That's as much as I'm going to read right now. You can find out exactly what happens when you read the book. I'll talk a little bit about what did happen in a minute, but tell me. What do you think Dozer might have done all night? Keep in mind these things. He's far from home because he's been running a long time, didn't have any breakfast. He's lost. Any ideas about what maybe Dozer did? I'd like to hear them? What do you think Dozer might have done? [ Inaudible ] He might have been running and looking for the runners. Because he didn't know. Maybe the runners are running at night. What was your idea? [ Inaudible ] He was looking for a home, another good idea. What might he have done? [ Inaudible ] He wanted to know where they were going so maybe all night he kept looking and running, right? Anybody else's idea? Anybody have any crazy and wild ideas for something he might have done? No? Maybe he knocked on somebody's door and they let him in? No. Maybe he -- I don't know -- went to McDonald's and had some chicken tenders? No, no. Well, any of those wild ideas or any of your ideas are good ideas but they couldn't have gone in my book because my book is nonfiction, meaning it's true, and we don't know what Dozer did. We don't know. And we're not going to know until he learns how to talk. So Rosanna, please teach him. Now, Dozer, if you had been in Dozer's shoes that day, and you had seen these runners running past his front yard, you would have seen clues that would have given you an idea of what was going on. Can you tell me what clues you might see in the picture that would clue you into what was happening? What do you think, young man? [ Inaudible ] It's a race. It's an organized race because yes, what do you see? [ Inaudible ] Maybe -- actually you're right. You can tell that they're running in an organized race and if they finish will get a medal. You also have an idea? Yeah. [ Inaudible ] Dozer felt left out because he didn't get a medal also. What do you have? [ Inaudible ] Dozer probably was doing -- following because he smelled good things, and in fact, people that run races and what I learned, what Dozer didn't know is that this was an organized race called the Maryland Half Marathon. You know how long a half marathon is? 13 miles. Have you ever run 13 miles at one time? I don't think so unless you've run a half marathon. And a lot of people -- you were talking about Dozer following his nose and smells. A lot of people when they're running that far, they'll carry in their arm bands or in a little pouch little snacks like jellybeans or trailmix or things like that. Now, 2000 people ran the race that day. So can you blame Dozer for wanting to leave his yard when he saw 2000 people running by one after another? And a lot of people saw Dozer running. Some of the runners did, of course, but so did people along the race. And they took pictures of him running. Those are some of the photos from Dozer running. And more. Here's Dozer running. More running. I'm still running. I'm still running. He's running. And there he is about to cross the finish line. He ran a very long way. Now, here you can see the real life photo of the finish line and the art work from the book showing him approaching the finish line. Now, do any of you have runners in your family? Anybody? People run -- who runs in your family? Your sister runs long distances? Short distances? Long? Who runs in your family? [ Inaudible ] You and your uncle run? That's so cool. Who runs in your family? >> Mom. >> Debby Levy: Your Mom runs? Wow. You all come from fit families. I'm happy to hear this. Who runs in your family? Your Dad runs? Very cool. Well, a lot of time these races like the Maryland half marathon, they are run for the fun of running, for the exercise of running, but also to do good. So they raise money often for a good cause. The Maryland half marathon raised money to fight cancer. Just by your hands, do you know what cancer is? It's a disease. It effects a lot of people. And so research needs to be done, and people need to be taken care of. So the runners, they get sponsors. They get sponsors to pay, give money to -- in this case, a cancer center in Baltimore in honor of their run and that's how lots of money is raised to fight cancer and people also get to go out and have a good time. Now, so these runners, all of them were also philanthropists. It's a hard word to say, but it's easy for you to understand. First, let's see if you can say it. Philanthropists. >> Philanthropists. >> Debby Levy: Say it. >> Philanthropists. >> Debby Levy: Philanthropists, philanthropists, philanthropists. Philanthropists, philanthropists, philanthropists. And all that is is somebody who does -- who does for others, who gives for others. And it doesn't have to be piles of money. So for example, it can be doing something good in your neighborhood. Now, do you think a dog -- do you think Dozer could be a philanthropist? [ Inaudible ] I mean, he didn't go out and get sponsors. He didn't go out and raise money, but all during the race, he helped. His cheerfulness helped people keep going because it's hard to run 13 miles. His funniness -- he made people laugh because he can be a little bit goofy. So he made people laugh, and they wanted to finish the race. So what happened after the race was over and Dozer was missing for 24 hours -- you know how long that is? A full day from Sunday morning to Monday morning. Of course, Rosanna was worried to death about her. But all the people who had seen Dozer, they were talking about him. So they're talking about their neighbors. Rosanna's calling people. The race organizers are talking about this dog. Finally, Rosanna and the race organizers realized that Dozer was the dog that everybody was talking about. So the organizers decided that Dozer who finished the race, he started at mile five and ended at 13 so how many miles did he run? Hard for me, too. Eight miles. He ran eight miles. That's a long way. So they decided he should get a medal. Here he is, the medal is being put on him and he's thinking, do I really want this on my neck? I don't know. And there he is telling his Mom, yeah actually I look pretty good. So then word really started to spread about Dozer, not only among the runners but throughout the state of Maryland, throughout the whole country. And people started making donations to fight cancer in honor of his run. And what happened was 700 people from 43 states including Washington, D.C. and three countries made donations totalling $25,000 to fight cancer. So Dozer raised two times as much as any of the human runners in the race that day because nobody raised nearly as much money as Dozer. And that is what made him famous, and that is why he's on television, why he has so many fans. He's a good boy, and now I'm going to get back to a mistake. It was a mistake for him to leave his yard that day. It was a mistake. He shouldn't do it again. Dozer, don't do it again. But he and his Mom and everybody who knew him, they turned it into something really, really good. I'm going to tell you a tiny bit about how I came to write this book. Somebody told me about what happened, just the vaguest details. Some dog ran some race some place. It's interesting. Maybe you want to write a book about it. So I did some research. How do you think I started my research? How do you think? [ Inaudible ] I looked it up on the computer. That's exactly right. I learned that Dozer was in Maryland and I'm from Maryland. I learned a little bit, but then I need to go meet Rosanna, and I talked to Rosanna. I talked to others too about what happened that day, but I knew I wanted to write a book from the dog's point of view. So remember when I wrote -- when I read from the book? You've got Dozer's point of view and what he's seeing but mostly what he's smelling. I really wanted to get in Dozer's head and to do that, I needed to interview Rosanna. So you all, think about if you're the writer and you have this idea to write a book about a dog about Dozer. Let's you interview Rosanna like I did and ask her questions that you'd like to know or that you'd want to know to write a book about Dozer. Any of you have some questions about Dozer? Well, I can start. I can start. >> Okay, go ahead. >> Debby Levy: Why is he called Dozer? >> That's a great question. He's called Dozer because when he was a little puppy he had bigger paws than his body, and when he used to run, he used to dozer down the hill. >> Debby Levy: Like a bulldozer? >> Like a bulldozer. So we ended up calling him Dozer. >> Debby Levy: What's your question? [ Inaudible ] How old is Dozer? >> Dozer's seven. >> Debby Levy: Seven? But how old was he when he ran -- he was seven. He was three. Yeah. He was three when he ran the race. He was a puppy. When is Dozer's birthday? >> You know, I think in the book we put March 2. >> Debby Levy: I don't know. I don't know. I don't see it. >> It's March 2. >> Debby Levy: I never asked that question. That's a good question. Who else has a good question for Rosanna about Dozer? Yeah. What's your question? [ Inaudible ] Yeah. Why was Dozer so interested in running? >> Dozer loves to run. He loves to run. I'm not sure. He's a people lover so I think when he saw so many people running by, he wanted to join the momentum. You know what momentum is? >> No. >> Debby Levy: It's a forward motion. They were moving forward, and he wanted to move with them. >> It's whenever -- has some momentum. So when you feel it's an energy of momentum. So I think he just felt that and wanted to go, go for it. It was a positive momentum. >> Debby Levy: Anybody else have questions for Rosanna about Dozer? You're writing a book. You got to find out about him. Yeah. [ Inaudible ] How old is Dozer? Dozer's 7 years old. Anybody else? >> He was 3 years old when it happened, but 7. >> Debby Levy: What's your question? [ Inaudible ] We don't know when his birthday is. >> It's March 2. I celebrate two birthdays, when he was born and when we got him. >> Debby Levy: Lucky Dozer. >> The [inaudible]. So some of you'll see as February, but it's really March. >> Debby Levy: Did you have a question? [ Inaudible ] Why is Dozer a special dog? >> I think he's special just because I love him because he's my dog. But I think the rest of the world thinks he's special because he did good for a lot of people. He raised a lot of money for cancer research, but it wasn't just him. It was through everybody that supported the cause. So that's what made him special. >> Debby Levy: What's your question? [ Inaudible ] Good question. Does Dozer have friends? >> I would say yes. He has over 17,000 Facebook friends. >> Debby Levy: Does he have dog friends? >> Oh yeah. He's got lots of dog friends. He has a friend named Chica, which is in the book. That's one of his best friends. He goes do playtime all the time with her. And then he just has -- he just got a brother named Trent, and he's a real big -- oh. Cool. He's an English Mastiff, which is really, really big. If you go on his Facebook page, you'll see him a lot. He does photo bombs behind Dozer a lot. He shows up. So you'll see him, too. >> Debby Levy: What's your question? [ Inaudible ] How do you make a book? I'm so glad you asked that. Let me tell you a little bit about how this book was made. There it is. There's Rosanna, the day I interviewed them, when I first met them. So after I did all my research which included talking to Rosanna but other research as well like talking to other people and learning about what it's like to run a half marathon and learning about goldendoodles, which is the breed that Dozer is, I wrote my -- I wrote a draft, and that's exact -- that is my draft. That's a shot -- a screenshot from my computer at home. And it's all nice and neat, isn't it? You think we're ready to publish the book? Since I have such a nice draft? >> Yes. >> Debby Levy: No. We're not ready to publish the book because I had to tear it all apart and rewrite it. I rewrote and rewrote. When you write a paper, maybe now you write it once. But as you go through school, you'll do rewriting because you can usually improve on the very first thing that you write. Certainly, I can. There's some of my improvements. And there's more I did. Oh, my goodness. I did a lot of drafts. Finally -- finally, I was happy with the words that I had written. What's your question? [ Inaudible ] I did print it out. I did print it out, but I didn't want to bring all those printouts with me because I'd be walking around like this. There were so many of them. So mostly I work -- I do work on my computer. I print things out and sometimes I work with a pen or pencil. What's your question? [ Inaudible ] Why is Dozer a special dog? [ Inaudible ] Because everybody likes him. He has lots of friends. What's your question? [ Inaudible ] What type of dog? That's a good question, and I only said it too quickly. He's a goldendoodle. What's a goldendoodle? >> It's a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle. >> Debby Levy: So once I got the words as I wanted them, then are we ready to make the book? >> Yeah. >> Debby Levy: Yes, but no because pictures. You saw my pictures of Tab the rabbit and the captured boys. Did I make the pictures for this book? I did not. I did not. See that -- that's right. The illustrators, a guy named David Opey [assumed spelling]. There he is. There we all are. Team Dozer. And illustrators too -- questions after I talk about this a little bit -- illustrators too, they don't just sit down and illustrate a book and here it is. It's already to go. They go through a lot of steps too so Dave, he made lots of different sketches of Dozer to get just the right shape. Dozer moving, Dozer sitting. Then he worked on what he calls color studies to get the color that he wanted because you know what? Let's use a word. What color would you say Dozer is? What would you say? [ Inaudible ] Some kind of white? Yeah. What would you say? Golden white. I see. >> White. >> Debby Levy: White. What would you say? >> Golden. >> Debby Levy: What would you say his color is? >> It's kind of like skin color. >> Debby Levy: It's kind of like skin color. Somebody's skin color, but it's not just white. It's not just gold like most of us. He's all different colors rolled up together and so the illustrator did a lot of studies trying to figure out what he should look like. Then, he puts together more detailed sketches like the one on the left with his final art for the book. Takes a while, takes months. And then finally we do have a book. So we've got our award winning Dozer. Now, do you think the Library of Congress lets any old dog into the Library of Congress? No. They don't. And remember I told you, do you think any old dog can sit through a presentation like he has? He might be saying, "Oh, I got to get out of here. I got to move. Let's go. Let's go. Where's my [inaudible]?" Can I say that word? >> Yeah, he's -- >> Debby Levy: So Dozer is a special dog also because he has a job. Dozer's a therapy dog. And I'm going to be asking, interviewing now Rosanna about Dozer's life as a therapy dog. And this isn't the book because when Dozer ran away and did his run, he wasn't a therapy dog. Only afterwards did Rosanna decide to get him certified to get him recognized as a therapy dog so that he could come to places like this and so they could do -- continue to do good things for other people. So now there are philanthropists, philanthropists, philanthropists in a new way by going and helping people because Dozer's a therapy dog. And a therapy dog -- does anybody know what a therapy dog is? Is one that's trained specially to work with people and be with people who are maybe sick or very old and frail or people who have problems, whether they have drug problems or alcohol problems or maybe they've been through a terrible experience, a disaster like a flood or a hurricane and therapy dogs with their humans, they go and visit these people and work with them, and they do a lot of good. And therapy dogs are always very gentle and kind and smart. And let's learn more about Dozer the therapy dog from Rosanna. So Rosanna, what would you say is the most important quality that a dog has to have in order to get the job of being a therapy dog? >> I would say he has to be able to be patient. It's very important like he is today. And mostly calm. >> Debby Levy: Do therapy dogs have to be a particular size? Do you have to be a nice big dog like Dozer? >> You can be any size. Therapy dogs come from little -- tiny little pups to really big, big ones. >> Debby Levy: And what does a therapy dog do in its job? >> A therapy dog helps people in different ways. That's why their title is therapy. It gives each person depending on what their needs are. It's therapeutic. So some people are nervous people or anxious, and I'll bring Dozer in, and it kind of calms them down. Some kids are in the hospital. They've been in there for a long time and they get depressed and upset because they haven't been outside a lot. So they get really happy when they see Dozer, and Dozer brings them a lot of happiness. Sometimes we go into nursing homes where the patient had to leave their dog at home or their animal at home and hasn't seem them for a very long time because they've been too sick to go home or they're probably not going to be able to go back. So when Dozer comes in, it makes them really happy. They remember their pet. >> Debby Levy: Does a therapy dog work by himself? Do you take him in and then send him into the room? >> No. A therapy dog has to have a person with them, and the person trains them to do basically just to be good to others and therapeutic, to give others what they need. Lots of love, loves of attention. >> Debby Levy: What do you like most about doing the therapy work about being Dozer the therapy dog's Mom? What do you like most about the work of a therapy dog? >> I like mostly that we're helping people, that we make -- we always leave there with people smiling. Everybody's happy when Dozer comes in. Everybody always wants to see us come back. So it's a great feeling to help others. >> Debby Levy: Does anybody have questions about the therapy dog part of Dozer's work? And we'll get to all your questions if you have any in a minute, but anything about him being a therapy dog? Yeah. [ Inaudible ] What does he do when he actually goes into to do his therapy? So I guess what does he do when he's with an older sick person? What does he do with the younger person? >> Dozer just goes with the flow. So it depends. For example, if we came to your house, what would you want to do with Dozer? What's your favorite things to do? What do you like? Let me start with -- what's that? [ Inaudible ] >> Playing. Well then, he would play with you. What's your favorite thing to do with dogs? [ Inaudible ] >> He loves that. He loves to eat and walk so he would do that with you. [ Inaudible ] >> He does that, too. He'll throw things. He'll catch it, and he'll bring it back to you. [ Inaudible ] >> Tricks. >> Debby Levy: Does Dozer do any tricks? >> He does a couple tricks. He -- Dozer, come up. Up. So Dozer will sit. Sit. He gives paw. Give me your paw. Good boy. Lay down. Lay. Dozer, lay. Lay. Good boy. That's pretty much what he does for right now. I don't know if he'll do the other ones because -- and he listens. He listens real well. But Dozer will do pretty much anything depending on where we're at and what the situation is and what your needs are. You like to throw the ball. She likes to -- what did you -- play with him. She wants to eat -- feed him and walk him. So he pretty much just wants to make people happy. That's why he's a great therapy dog because he's a people pleaser. He wants to make you happy. >> Debby Levy: What does Dozer like to eat? >> Dozer, believe it or -- he eats real food. >> Debby Levy: Real food? >> Yes. I cook him real food. There are certain things dogs can't eat, but he'll eat vegetables, meat, rice, all kinds of stuff. >> Debby Levy: Does he like chicken? >> Chicken, fish,red meat. No. No bones. He likes chewing on the bone. [ Inaudible ] >> Debby Levy: Human food. Your dog too likes to eat -- >> Why not? Right? Good stuff. [ Inaudible ] >> Debby Levy: Doesn't just eat pet food? Only eats pet food. [ Inaudible ] He eats human food too. >> I don't blame him. >> Debby Levy: People give their dog human food. Yes. [ Inaudible ] When Dozer runs, what? [ Inaudible ] >> He does have a medal. We have it at home, and I didn't bring it today. He does. You'll see it. He has it right there. I have it in a case at home, but he did get a medal. [ Inaudible ] >> Debby Levy: Dozer's famous. He is because he was on -- he was on television on the news, not just here, but national news all across the United States and even people in Canada heard about him and in other countries as well. I'm going to show you one more thing, and then we're going to have more questions and then we're going to get to meet Dozer. So you saw my books from earlier about the captured boys and Tuggy and Fish, but I have also written other books that are published like the Dozer book, and here they are. I've written 22 books in total. I don't know if you've seen any of them. Some of them are up here, and they're pictured up there. I wrote a book about -- oh, I've written books about presidents. I've written books about famous places, famous events. I've written a book about my own mother. I wrote a book about -- just about the most famous song in the world. Anybody know what that is? What? We Shall Overcome. And I've written a dog -- a book about pretty much the best and cutest and most wonderful dog ever. So yes, what are you pointing at? Dozer's run? What are you pointing at? Yes, We Shall Overcome. That's right. So more questions and then we're going to have you all come and meet Dozer. Yeah. [ Inaudible ] Where's Dozer's Mom? Oh Dozer's dog Mom? >> His dog Mom. We got him from a breeder in Pennsylvania. So they have her. >> Debby Levy: So Dozer's Mom is in Pennsylvania. >> I have a quick question for them. I'm wondering what their favorite thing about Dozer's story is? What do you like most about the whole story? >> Debby Levy: Yes. [ Inaudible ] That he runs with people. Yes. [ Inaudible ] He likes people walking him. You liked that about him. [ Inaudible ] You like that he likes helping people. That's a big one. Yes. [ Inaudible ] Why else is he a special dog? Let's hear it. [ Inaudible ] Because he's a therapy dog. That does make him very special. >> This has been a presentation of the Library of Congress. Visit us at loc.gov.