Reading goes to the dogs

From: Hampton Roads Daily Press - Newport,VA,USA - Jan 13, 2005

Y JUDI TULL/SPECIAL TO THE DAILY PRESS

Published January 13, 2005

Earlier this year, Melanie Paul realized that she could combine two of her great loves: dogs and reading. She approached Marsha Knox, children's librarian at the Hampton Main Library, about starting a new program. With the help of Knox, literacy coordinator Jeanne Devine and volunteers from the Hampton Roads chapter of Therapy Dogs International, "Paws to Read" started in September. Now, on the third Saturday of each month, children ages 6 to 10 have the opportunity to meet the therapy dogs while practicing their reading skills.

"The dogs help children build confidence in their reading and speaking abilities," said Paul. "They don't criticize the children's reading. They're excellent listeners."

Paul has been on the staff at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind for 25 years. She's held positions as guidance counselor, supervisor, reading resource specialist and, currently, high school teacher.

She's been deaf since she was 12, but she learned to read lips and attended mainstream schools until she went to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. After receiving a bachelor's degree in psychology there, she attended Western Maryland College, where she received a master's in counseling and guidance for the deaf. She went on to become the first deaf person to graduate from the College of William and Mary with an advanced degree in special education supervision.

She became involved with the therapy dog program several years ago when she took her sheltie, Shiloh, for obedience training at the Merrimac Dog Training Club in Hampton and met Jill Vaden, who certifies dogs for the pet therapy program. With some additional training, Shiloh became a certified therapy dog and now volunteers with Paul several times a week, visiting retirement communities and nursing homes as well as coming to the Paws to Read program.

The Paws to Read program's focus is twofold. It's an opportunity for kids to practice their reading skills with willing listeners and also for them to learn how to act around animals, said Paul.

"We help children develop confidence around dogs," she said, "and we teach them things like not making fast movements around them or pulling their ears."

During the program, children choose any book they want to read from the children's section of the library and then pick a dog to read to. Every 15 minutes, a bell rings and the kids move on to another dog. Human volunteers are on hand to help the youngsters if they get stuck on a word. On any given Saturday, there are as many as 18 dogs and kids in the conference room.

It's not necessary for a child to live in Hampton to participate, said the library's Jeanne Devine.

"I would love to see more children with disabilities come," said Paul. "We can sign with deaf children, or blind children could bring Braille books to read."

In addition to her work with the pet therapy group, Paul is also involved in animal rights programs and recently served on the Hampton Cat Leash Law committee.

Paws to Read will continue indefinitely, Devine said, as long as the kids and volunteers - human and canine - keep coming.

The dogs come from all over the area, and Paul said the program's success is owed to them. "These individuals graciously give their time and share their dogs with the children to volunteer with this program," she said. "They know the monthly interaction with the dogs and children will long remain in the minds of the children."

Copyright ©2005 The Daily Press