Students learn to write doggerel as they get into the heads of pet animals

KENT — “How to do you think like a dog?” was the question Rick Levy posed to the middle-school students at Kent Memorial Library’s writing workshop on Thursday night, July 7. 

It was a question he had once asked of himself. After spending his adult life sans canine companion (Levy even invented an imaginary pooch pal named Murray, complete with an invisible dog leash, to the delight of his grandchildren), he and his wife, artist Leslie Lillian Levy, are now the proud “parents” of Skipper Levy. Middle name? Murray, of course. It was during one of Skipper’s obedience classes that Levy first learned that in order to train your dog, you must think like a dog. 

“Well let’s see, he’s only 8 inches off the ground, so he sees everything by looking up,” Levy said, describing Skipper — a newly trimmed bichon frisé in attendance that evening at the library. 

“He doesn’t understand words — but he sure knows sounds. He takes hints from every noise or smell. A dog is thinking all the time. But what is he thinking about?”

Skipper has been thinking out loud for some time — at least, by way of the keys on Levy’s laptop. During a trip down South, Levy decided a more interesting way to document the vacation would be through the eyes of Skipper. He described the relationship as that between famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy, Charlie McCarthy. Levy’s finished project is part photo album, part children’s book. In its pages, Skipper narrates the mysteries of a hotel elevator, New Orleans’ French Quarter and seeing a snooty female bichon along the way. 

Levy shared “Travels with Skipper” as part of the Summer Reading Rewards Program, a series of workshops the Kent Memorial Library holds to get students in fifth grade and up actively involved in reading, writing and creativity even while school is out. 

The middle-schoolers then had time to write, wondering just what might go through their pets’ minds when they’re away from home. In one story, a parakeet proudly proclaimed, “I’m here to make life more interesting!” 

Ellen Paul and Sarah Marshall, the library’s co-directors of children’s services, read short pieces written from their own dogs’ perspectives. 

A pair of twins in the workshop were quick to write and revise in the spirit of rivalry during the reading portion, a whirlwind duel of words in which their dog Hunter loved a different twin more, depending on who authored his thoughts. 

“She’s a very irresponsible owner,” one twin read aloud, and the other, in shock, took pencil to paper, scribbling out a retort. Who was Shakespeare and who was just Christopher Marlowe? The roast concluded most pointedly. Following a list of faults ,“Hunter” jibed in a final blow: “And she’s the older twin!” Et tu, Fido?