Helping with homework instead of eating it

St. John Ambulance therapy dogs lend a paw with the launch of Paws 4 Stories

A cuteness overload is the best way to describe the newest initiative coming to Portugal Cove-st. Philip’s — Paws 4 Stories.

The first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador, Paws 4 Stories launched on Aug. 8 at the Portugal Cove-st. Philip’s Library. The program aims to encourage children age 6 to 12 to pick up a book by providing them with a safe and nonjudgmental presence next to a big-eared fluffy friend.

With the help of St. John Ambulance therapy dogs, Elyse Coombs, librarian at the Portugal Cove-st. Philip’s Library, says she can’t wait to get the program off the ground.

“The whole idea is that kids will associate their love for animals with a love for reading,” Coombs explained. “They can read out loud to the dog or they can read in their heads — whatever they want. We just want to make them feel comfortable.

“We want to foster a relationship between the child and the dog,” Coombs told The Telegram on Monday, explaining that children will get one-on-one sessions every week with a trained Janeway therapy dog that will sit and relax while the child reads.

In order to allow the dogs and their trainers time and experience to adjust, a pilot program is running during the next four weeks for children of staff. Starting in September, Paws 4 Stories will be open to the public with a six-week registration commitment at no cost to parents, aside from a $5 library membership that is good for a year.

Coombs says the library plans to run more future sessions, given the high amount of interest from the public in Paws 4 Stories. That said, since there is a limited amount of space available, priority will be given to children who need help improving their reading skills, or who are reluctant to read at all.

Coombs worked on a similar initiative in Halifax in previous years, and said it had phenomenal success and she is excited to be bringing it back home.

“No parents, no pressure — just them, the dog, a blanket and a book. It’s like a picnic with a puppy. And I don’t care if a kid comes in and reads the back of a shampoo bottle,” she joked. “We just want to get them reading.

“They start off the first week sitting in the corner, probably not engaging with the dog or reading … just sitting there. But by the end of the program, I’ve seen kids not only reading out loud to the dog, but who are also asking me to come in, or they want mom and dad, or their brothers and sisters.

“They go from someone who does not want to read to someone who loves it, and that’s the point of this program. It’s the most rewarding thing ever.”