Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 29, 1993 TAG: 9311290026
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
When David Viccellio got home from work the other day, a phone message was waiting for him: "This is the Larchmont Library calling, and your dog Wofford is over here trying to check out a book." It was a warm day and the library's door was open, so Wofford ambled in, put his mouth around a children's book and got in line as if to check it out.
"There he was, standing by the desk," said Albert Ward of the library staff. "Waiting very patiently. Behaving like you should in a library."
Ward gently removed the book from Wofford's mouth and took him outside where he secured him and gave him some chew toys he keeps in his truck for his own dog.
A few minutes later, Wofford was back in the library, browsing.
Unable to reach the Viccellios, the library staff eventually called Animal Control, which took Wofford home.
Wofford didn't return with any books. Just form No. 710-662714 from Animal Control for being a "dog at large" and a summons to appear in General District Court, Criminal Division, on Jan. 4.
"That's pretty steep for just going to the library," said Viccellio.
Later the same day, Megan Viccellio, 15, went to the library. She was asked by a librarian, "Is Wofford your dog?" There he was under the reference table, settled in for the night until Megan took him home.
Wofford has always been something of a bookhound. Before he could barely bark, the Viccellios would often find Wofford curled up in a corner at night with a book.
When company comes over, Wofford usually greets them by taking a book off the coffee table and offering it to them.
"He's a retriever, but he's never been the least bit interested in retrieving," said Viccellio's wife, Kat. "Throw a stick or a ball and he goes over and lays down next to it. But books get him excited."
by CNB