Apr 6, 2008

Literacy pooches all book, no bite

Animal coaches help young readers learn

By Liz Harrelson / Daily News Correspondent

An elite group of specially trained dogs - and one rabbit - are reaching out to fledgling readers to promote literacy.

The group of eight animals and their handlers compose the core of a new Peninsula Humane Society program called Paws for Tales, in which the teams visit homework hotspots in Redwood City, San Mateo and Burlingame.

Dogs like Pono, a miniature poodle, help young readers find their voices by sitting quietly through the stutters and mispronunciations that are bound to occur as part of the learning process, and by doling out tail wags and kisses.

"It's an excellent program for kids that are self-conscious for reading out loud and also for kids who are unsure of their reading abilities, because dogs are not judgmental," said Jacky Averill, children's librarian at the Redwood City Public Library. "As adults, we don't always wag our tails enough."

The kids can benefit in other ways too. Experts agree that establishing a human-animal connection can promote a general sense of well-being and have health benefits, said Brian Probst, manager of the volunteer and retail services for the Peninsula Humane Society/SPCA. Studies have shown that in adults, bonding with animals can help alleviate depression and lower blood pressure, he said.

The interaction also draws out people and engages them, said Probst, who developed the Paws for Tales program after reading about similar programs elsewhere in the United States.

"When a child reads to a dog one-on-one, they can raise their reading level by two grades in a short period of time," said Ginger Mozzetti, intern volunteer coordinator for the Peninsula Humane Society.

It was at the pilot Paws for Tales program held at a San Mateo library where participants saw firsthand how therapeutic reading to dogs can be.

"There's a little girl, she sat next to Pono but she was very shy, almost kind of whispering as she read her story," said Barbara Wells, Pono's handler and a Paws for Tales volunteer. It was after the girl, about 4 years old, was finished reading that the mother explained the significance of the occasion."

The girl had been mauled by a dog while in an elevator, Wells said.

"Her mom was trying to expose her to sit with dogs. ... She felt so comfortable with Pono, it was so heartwarming," Wells said.
The Paws for Tales program began in 2007 and is an offshoot of the Society's pet-assisted therapy program, where specially trained pet/handler teams make regular visits to nursing facilities and homeless shelters to engage with people who could use a furry friend's unconditional love, Probst said.

All pet-assisted therapy and Paws for Tales pets are required to first pass a 10-step "canine good citizen" test developed by the American Kennel Club and administered by the Peninsula Humane Society. The canines must learn to obey commands and not overreact to loud noises, jump on others, or balk at unfamiliar contraptions such as wheelchairs or walkers.

For Pono, learning to be less enthusiastic was a tough run.

"He loves people, to meet new people, to meet new dogs," said Wells, a Hillsborough resident for 27 years.

"That was the hardest (part of the training). He just wanted to socialize with everybody. I thought, 'Oh no, he's never going to pass these tests.'"

Pono passed, and in 2007 Wells and Pono began visiting a small nursing home in Burlingame, with tail- and tongue-wagging success.

"The minute he has his little scarf on - you think he knows he's going to be working - he's just so gentle with everybody," Wells said.
So far, the program has been wildly successful, organizers say.

"Dogs are multilingual," Averill said. "A belly scratch, no matter what language you speak, it's still a belly scratch."

In April the Paws for Tales team will embark on a new mission - visiting children whose families are in transition at the Shelter Network in Burlingame, Probst said.

Dogs have visited the Redwood City library three times this year and are scheduled to return Saturday from 11 a.m. until noon. The event will repeat on the second Saturday of each month until December.

In San Mateo the program will resume for the summer reading program, with dogs scheduled to visit the main library on the first Monday of each month, and the Hillsdale branch every second Tuesday for the months of June, July and August.