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Community Corner

Dogs Spread Love, Literacy

Love on a Leash engages young readers at the Poway Library.

Dogs are like people in many ways. They also appreciate a good book, even if they can't read like the rest of us.

Children and certified therapy dogs learn together through the "Reading to a Furry Friend" program every Saturday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the . The reading fest is in the children's section and pairs dogs with children for an hour of reading. Organized by nonprofit Love on a Leash, the reading fest is just one of its many programs for children and dogs that began in North San Diego in the 1980s by dog trainer Liz Palika.

Those involved in the program, including retired Midland Elementary School teacher Miss Sitek, say it works because it builds a child's speech and character.

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"There are many benefits to dog-centered reading programs like the one at the Poway Library," said Sitek, who is also a Love on a Leash volunteer. "This includes honing a child's communication skills while building self-esteem, confidence and social skills."

But the program is fun for children too, said Christina Giulianotti, the Love on a Leash coordinator at the Poway Library,

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"I have seen amazing results from children who are a little reticent at first to read to an adult," she said. "But when you tell them it's just the dog that they are reading to, and that the dog isn't going to worry about them making mistakes, they enjoy themselves."

The program won over three children who participated for the first time Saturday.

Juviane Santos, 13, Kayla Poblete, 10, and Kaylin Poblete, 7, attended the Love on a Leash program over the weekend. None of the girls had prior knowledge of the reading program, but decided to join anyway. Kayla said she was smitten with a golden retriever named Marco, 5.

"We walked into the library and saw the dogs," she said. "I read to Marco and he was paying attention to me. I love dogs and don't usually read but now I want to read more."

Kaylin bonded with Maggie, 8, a black labrador.

"I like that she paid attention and listened to me," Kaylin said, adding that she now plans to recruit Punchie, her family dog, to help with homework. "I belong to a reading club at school where you have to read for 500 minutes. I'm going to read some of those minutes with Punchie because I know it will be fun."

Maggie's guardian is Sitek who said there is another plus to the program.

"There are a lot of apartments around the library that don't allow dogs," she said. "Some parents bring their children so they can get comfortable with a dog."

The youngest participant in Saturday's program was Emilia Russ who will be 2 in December. Even though she doesn't have a dog at home, Emilia quickly bonded with a shih tzu named Sparky, 4.

"Emilia loves to read," said mother Elsie Russ. "She reads book after book and won't go to bed. She loves dogs, so it works out well that dogs are here."

Additionally, Marco, Maggie and Sparky are all rescue dogs. They demonstrate that, given a chance, the reach of a rescue dog can extend far beyond spreading love to their immediate family to include strangers as well, said volunteers.

"Sparky brings joy to other people, too," said Lynne Aronen. "He visits nursing homes and loves to cuddle with people in their beds."  

But a passion for literacy and the bond that's created between two different creatures is what Love on a Leash is about, said participants.

Donna Chomyk—who brings her three-legged, spaniel-border collie mix, Emily, to the program—said she volunteers with Love on a Leash because of the camaraderie with volunteers.

"People who love dogs and do this are the kind of people you want in your life," she said.

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