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Children read to a four-legged audience
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Neighbors | Emily Gianetti.Linda Habuda and her dog, Kaya, have been a part of K-9's For Compassion for four years. K-9's For Compassion put together the Tales for Tails event at the Canfield library to help encourage young readers.
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Zoey Zarkou (left) read to Periwinkle (front) and her owner, Bill Leskanic (right). She also made sure she took enough breaks to play with the dog at the Tales to Tails event at the Canfield library.
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Neighbors | Emily Gianetti.Alexa Zarkou (left) read "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" to Periwinkle (front) and her owner, Bill Leskanic (right) at the Tales to Tails event hosted by the Canfield library.
By EMILY GIANETTI
Reading isn’t always fun for kids — it is sometimes boring and difficult. But the therapy group, K-9’s For Compassion, has found a way to make it a little more enjoyable.
On Sept. 17, K-9’s For Compassion brought two dogs to the Canfield library’s Tales to Tails event, and children had the opportunity to read to man’s best friend. The readers picked out their favorite books, found a dog and read.
“It was really fun reading to the dogs,” said participant Zoey Zarkou. “They were cute.”
K-9’s For Compassion is a local part of the national Pet Partners, an organization that provides therapy animals to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, schools and libraries to help those in need.
“You see the kids come in and they’re excited to see the dogs,” said volunteer Linda Habuda, who brought her dog Kaya to the event. “You see their eyes light up. You see those kids smile.”
The dogs must pass a test to be part of the program. Research done by Pet Partners shows that having animals around is helpful both because they provide companionship and lessen anxiety.
Habuda noticed a change in the children as well.
“They’re more relaxed when reading to the dogs. They don’t think about making mistakes. In fact, most of the time they just want to play with the dogs.”