READING GOES TO THE DOGS KIDS HONE LITERACY WITH FURRY FRIENDS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - In one corner of Shirley Richards' kindergarten classroom at Sunnydale School, a golden retriever sits attentively as a 5-year-old boy reads from a book titled ``Go Dog. Go!''

Near the door, an Australian cattle dog gets fed treats for doing tricks, while a Tibetan terrier ``pawtographs'' - using an ink pad - books that youngsters have finished reading.

Golda, Shakespeare and Missy are part of a two-year-old Reading to Dogs program that school officials say is not only fun for the pupils but is helping to boost reading skills as well.

``It's fun because the dogs like you and they lick you and stuff,'' said Aaron Viera, 6, who received a book called ``Biscuit Goes to School'' with a paw print from Missy in it.

Ariel Perdomo, 5, said, ``I like reading to them because they are soft.''

Dogs are good listeners for beginning readers because they are non- judgmental and don't react one way or another to what they are hearing, and thus lessen the anxiety of students.

``It's because the dog is non-threatening. Think back to when we had to read a paragraph. We always skipped ahead to read it so as not to make a mistake or look foolish. If we made a mistake, someone would snicker in class,'' said Carole Kelly, who came up with the idea for doing the reading program and is a pet therapy coordinator for an organization that sends dogs to hospitals and nursing homes.

``We have found with kids who need some help in reading, they shine when they have to read to the dogs. No one will laugh at them, no one cares if they can't make a sound right. The dog is a neutral visitor. The dog just likes them because they are there,'' Kelly said.

Principal Jean Youngquist said the child has two listeners, the dog and its handler, and the dog gets the attention they crave from two people. About six dogs and their handlers participate in the program, volunteering to come in once a week.

``It's important that a child gets to read out loud and work through the language. Children are very slow when they start reading. They spend a minute trying to sound out one word. It takes an extraordinary amount of patience to sit and listen to that. The dog is just fine with this. He knows there's a treat at the end, and they tend to read them books about dogs,'' Youngquist said.

Kelly got the idea of starting the program after reading about one in Utah. She called Richards, who taught Kelly's son in first grade about 15 years ago, to see if she would be willing to try it.

In the first year, the number of readers in Richards' kindergarten class doubled from seven to 14, Kelly said.

With a grant from Boeing, the program was able to purchase dog-themed children's books that are given to youngsters once they have read them, each with a paw print from the dog on the inside cover.

About 14 children have received books so far this year. ``That's a big accomplishment,'' Kelly said.

A front paw of Missy, the 6 1/2-year-old Tibetan terrier who sported a ponytail decorated with a blue flower, was stained with blue ink after she imprinted her shaggy foot on two books.

Richards said the dogs have inspired and motivated the children to want to read so they can spend time with the dogs.

``The children are relaxed. The dogs respond to the children, and the children respond to them. They don't feel intimidated,'' said Richards, who has been teaching for more than 46 years. ``It just relaxes them. It also makes them want to do it.''

Golda, the 11-year-old golden retriever, sat next to Anthony Ruacho, 5, as he read from the book ``Go Dog. Go!''

Golda panted, nuzzled the book and pushed it off Anthony's lap and licked the book's pages while Golda's handler, Dana Greatman, helped Anthony sound out words.

``Golda says, read me some more,'' Greatman said.

Shakespeare, the Australian cattle dog, is a class favorite. Called Shakey for short, the dog falls to the ground when the children count to three and say ``Boo!'' and pops out between handler Jean Hobbs' legs in games of peek-a-boo.

The dogs in the reading program wear snug red jackets embroidered with their names.

Mary Dincau said her dog, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd named Ozzie, gets excited when she pulls out the jacket.

``When he gets the jacket on, he knows we will get to see the kids,'' Dincau said. ``He runs out to the van. He really likes being here with the kids, and the kids love him, too.''

``This program is not a lot of work. The dogs get to sit there or they lie down. Sometimes they put their head in the kid's lap or nuzzle or let the kid rub their belly while they read to the dog,'' Kelly said.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Anthony Ruacho, 5, reads to golden retriever Golda as part of a kindergarten reading program at Sunnydale Elementary School in Lancaster.

(2) Darnesha Jones, 5, reads to Ozzie, a 2-year-old Australian sheppard. ``He really likes being here with the kids, and the kids love him, too,'' said owner Mary Dincau.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer