That’s the message Dennis Police Chief Mike Whalen delivered to close to 40 West Dennis residents at last week’s Crime Watch meeting at West Dennis Library.

Whalen said the police department will support the group for as long as it wants to meet at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. He said West Dennis has been “pretty quiet” lately and that burglaries have waned.

Over the past few weeks, Whalen has visited several Dennis shops that advertise cash for gold and silver. “It’s easy for someone to break into your house, pawn your things, and a few days later it’s melted down,” he said. “We’re cracking down on businesses that buy gold and silver.”

Kids and dogs will get together at West Dennis Library this summer to – wait for it – read together.

Reading with Ruby and Friends debuted June 10, and will return five more times over the summer. “If the program remains popular, I’d like to continue it through the school year,” said library director Jennie Wiley. Eight children participated in the first session.

Ruby, an Irish setter, is the main therapy dog in the program that takes specially trained canines to schools, hospitals, nursing homes — and now libraries — to work their magic. “Research has shown that the most reluctant readers enjoy reading with the non-judgmental dogs, who sit quietly listening, with their handlers always close by,” Wiley said. “Children can pet the dogs without fear of being bitten or growled at and read without fear of making a mistake.”