Kids and K-9s enjoy tales at the library
Gavin Ward, 5, reads to Periwinkle during a Monday evening program at the Canfield Library. K-9s for Compassion and owner-volunteers of the group also take their dogs to nursing homes and hospitals.
Andy Ward, 2, reads to Emily, a golden retriever, during a Monday evening program at the Canfield Library. K-9s for Compassion and owner-volunteers of the group also take their dogs to nursing homes and hospitals.
From left, Michael Gensamer, 5, Foster Sipp, 7, and Andy Ward, 2, read out loud to Emily, a golden retriever, during a Monday evening program at the Canfield Library. K-9s for Compassion and owner-volunteers of the group also take their dogs to nursing homes and hospitals.
By ASHLEY LUTHERN
aluthern@vindy.com
Michael Gensamer, 5, showed up at the Canfield Library Monday ready to practice his reading skills.
He picked out a book and sat down next to his reading partner, Emily, a golden retriever. Michael was one of a dozen children who went to “Tales to Tails,” a library program which encourages reading confidence by having children of all ages read to dogs.
“I like sitting by the dog when I read,” Michael said.
His older sister, Gabriella Gensamer, also attended the program.
“It’s easier to read to the dog than in class,” Gabriella said.
The dogs were provided by K-9s for Compassion, a Delta Society Pet Partner Program based in Hubbard, that uses the pets in hospitals, nursing homes and situations with children.
“These kids may not like to read to others, but most don’t care if they’re reading to a dog,” said Cheryl Soyka, a K-9 member and volunteer. “They focus on the dog and forget that (the handler) is there.”
Every dog and its owner must complete a 19-step eligibility test and if they pass, then the K-9 member is asked to volunteer four hours each month. K-9s for Compassion currently has about 40 members and was founded by Katie Costello, a veterinary technician at Animal Charity in Youngstown. The idea came to Costello when she and the Animal Charity staff took Munchkin, a Dachshund/Beagle mix that was in a wheelchair after being hit by a car, to visit nursing homes.
The collaboration with the library began when one of the K-9 members, who was also a Hubbard librarian, read about similar programs across the country. The “Tales to Tails” and “Paws to Read” programs have been very popular, Soyka said.
Andy Ward, 2, and his 5-year-old brother Gavin Ward, were excited to visit with a tiny dog named Periwinkle that they had met at another program at the Poland Library. Gavin didn’t just read to Periwinkle, he also told the dog a few knock-knock jokes. The Ward brothers do not have a dog and both said they like coming to the library to read to them.
“Some of these kids might not have pets, so this gives them a little exposure,” Soyka said. “The dogs provide love and help the kids feel accepted.”