The dog is willing but the human still isn't.

Dylan with one of his books.

This is Dylan Blount's third Tail Wagging Tales reading session with Leah Brewer and her therapy dog, Elle, in an effort to help the youngster overcome his fear of dogs.

There are signs of improvement. Dylan will pet the dog's back but when she turns to face him he backs away.

During the reading session at the Roanoke Rapids Public Library, Elle lays down, her snout about a foot away from Dylan. He inches back a little further.

Dylan's parents, Adele Greene and Robert Blount, can't figure it out.

He has no allergic reactions to dogs, his mother said. "We've tested him for all the normal things. When he reads to the dog there's no sneezing, no itching. It can't be he's allergic to her."

His father, a dog lover, who especially admires the pit bull breed, which Elle is, is mystified, too. "We don't have pets in the house. He's scared of little dogs because they're so hyperactive."

Elle, Robert says, is different. "She's calm, slow."

Adele says her son wants to pet the dog. "He doesn't like it when Elle looks at him. He says he wants to pet her. That's progress."

This approach did not work.

After Dylan has read four books to Elle, his father tries a different approach, and takes his son's hand in his and inches it to the dog's face. Robert's hand touches the dog but Dylan pulls back.

This happens with Elle restrained and Brewer says the dog doesn't understand, that she is willing to greet and show affection to the boy. "People are uncomfortable with what they're not familiar with. I can see she's not understanding when she's restrained but I understand his (Robert's) point when he (Dylan) is uncomfortable with it. He wants Dylan to pet her."

What may help Dylan, Brewer, says, is allowing him to watch another child interact with the dog when they read to Elle. "I think it will help him push a little to allow him to witness other kids with her."

Editor’s note: This is the second of a continuing series documenting the progress Dylan Blount makes overcoming his fear of dogs by reading to Elle, a registered therapy dog, at the Roanoke Rapids Public Library. Dylan’s next session will be January 22. For more information on Tail Wagging Tales contact the library at 252-533-2890.