Therapy dog encourages love of reading at Rostraver library
Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog, visited Rostraver Public Library this fall to help children with reading. Pictured are (from left) Sally Goodboy, who is Nugget's owner; Nugget and Mason Hunter, of Rostraver Township. Mason enjoyed practicing reading with Nugget, saying, "Did I mention he was nice?''
Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog, visited Rostraver Public Library this fall to help children with reading. Pictured are (from left) Sally Goodboy, who is Nugget's owner; Nugget and Ava Dudzinski, 8, of Rostraver Township. Ava read with Nugget to help get over her fear of dogs. She said, "He’s nice and he won’t jump around.''
Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog, (foreground) visited Rostraver Public Library this fall to help children with reading. Behind Nugget is Mason Hunter, 7, of Rostraver Township, and owner Sally Goodboy, of North Belle Vernon.
Owner Sally Goodboy, of North Belle Vernon, pets Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog during a recent visit to Rostraver Public Library where Nugget helped children with reading. The two have been volunteering for 10 years at nursing homes, schools and libraries. Goodboy said, “People that we have seen, children we have worked with have all benefited from this beautiful dog I have.’’
Kelly Yoskosky, program coordinator for Rostraver Public Library, relaxes with Nugget when he visited to help children with reading. Yoskosky said, "The idea behind it is to have children come into a judge-free zone. They relax. They read to the dog. There’s no outside interference from anybody and it helps with their self-esteem.’’
Rostraver Public Library welcomed Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog this fall, for a program to help children with reading.
Owner Sally Goodboy, of North Belle Vernon, leads Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog during a recent visit to Rostraver Public Library where Nugget helped children with reading. The two have been volunteering for 10 years at nursing homes, schools and libraries. Goodboy said, “People that we have seen, children we have worked with have all benefited from this beautiful dog I have.’’
Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog, sits quietly while Mason Hunter, of Rostraver Township, practices reading at Rostraver Public Library.
Rostraver Public Library welcomed Nugget, a 12-year-old therapy dog this fall, for a program to help children with reading.
Children who came to the Rostraver Public Library on Mondays this fall found a pleasant surprise in a beautiful golden retriever named Nugget.
A 12-year-old therapy dog, Nugget visited the library to provide comfort to children who have trouble reading or are shy about reading out loud.
“The idea behind it is to have children come into a judge-free zone,” explained Kelly Yoskosky, program coordinator for the library. “They relax. They read to the dog. There’s no outside interference from anybody and it helps with their self-esteem.”
Some studies suggest therapy dogs do help motivate children to read and improve their reading skills.
Nugget, owned by Sally Goodboy of North Belle Vernon, first came to Rostraver library in the summer for three days and was invited back in September and October.
Goodboy sat in a chair in a corner in the children’s section of the library while Nugget lay at her at her feet as children came one by one to take their turn.
Goodboy and Nugget have been volunteering for 10 years, visiting schools and nursing homes in addition to the library.
Nugget, who was always on a leash, received training at Westmoreland County Community College for six semesters and passed a test to become a therapy dog. He’s registered with Therapy Dog International.
“You did a good job,” said Goodboy to Mason Hunter, 7, of Rostraver Township, as he finished his session.
Mason beamed a big smile. The second-grade student at Rostraver Elementary doesn’t struggle with reading but he liked the idea of practicing with Nugget.
Melissa Misocovich, Mason’s mother, said of her son, “He really likes to read. He loves animals. I think it’s a great idea.”
Talking with his mother about why he likes Nugget, Mason said, “Did I mention nice?”
“He’s soft, huh,” Melissa asked. “He listened to you read?”
“Yeah,” said Mason. “He also looks very pretty.”
“He does look pretty,” said Melissa.
Linda Vernet of Rostraver, brought her grandchildren Ava Dudzinski, 8, and Nathan Dudzinski, 4, to the library. Ava visted Nugget every week of his fall visits. She had a special reason.
“I’m afraid of dogs,” Ava explained.
“I learned about this program,” said Vernet. “Her reading is great but I thought if she could be around the dog and distracted, it might help.”
The idea seemed to be working as Ava reached out to pet and pose for a photo with Nugget for her grandmother at the end of the session.
“This has been very, very helpful,” said Vernet.
Ava said of Nugget, “He’s super soft and friendly.”
Asked how Nugget helps, Ava said, “Because he’s nice and he won’t jump around.”
Goodboy is happy to help.
She wanted to do something special with Nugget after receiving him as a gift when he was a puppy.
“I started him at WCCC puppy school. He had champion blood lines and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t lazy. He’s just as gentle as he is nice,” said Goodboy, showing how Nugget responds to commands.
The two became volunteers, starting by visiting nursing homes as soon as Nugget passed the therapy test when he was 2 years old.
“We visit every room, and people can pet him. He comes up to them — ‘Here I am!’ He makes people happy,” Goodboy said.
She relayed a story about Nugget being overly friendly with a woman in a nursing home, coming straight at her.
“I thought she would be afraid,” said Goodboy. “But she wasn’t. She said that’s what she wanted — a kiss for Mother’s Day.”
The visits expanded to elementary schools and the Rostraver library.
Goodboy noted that teachers told her children who read to Nugget raised their their test scores.
“I love my dog and everybody else does too,” Goodboy said. It makes me as happy as he makes other people.”
Goodboy believes Nugget has helped people more than she realizes.
She said, “People that we have seen and children we have worked with have all benefited from this beautiful dog I have.”
For more information on the program, call Rostraver Public Library at 724-379-5511.