AUBURN - Third grader Nick Leonello is an avid reader, spending each night with his nose in a book or reading to his younger siblings. But never before has he read to a dog.
On Monday, Genesee Elementary School student Leonello, 9, of Auburn, read to Daisy, a yellow Labrador retriever who came to the elementary school with owner Flo Peters to present a reading program through Sunshine Friends, Inc., a not-for-profit volunteer organization that provides animal assisted therapy and animal assisted activities to the community.
“It was cool because I never read to a dog before,” Leonello said.
He carefully articulated the words written by author Kalli Dakos - who will be speaking to students in the five elementary schools in the Auburn Enlarged City School District this week and next - in her book, “The Bug in Teacher's Coffee and Other School Poems,” while Daisy sat next to him on a Clifford the Big Red Dog cushion.
“I was sitting right next to her and reading a book I never read before,” Leonello said. “I read every single (poem), too.”
Daisy and Peters have made three trips to Genesee Elementary School, giving third grade students a chance to read out loud to an impartial and affectionate creature.
“No matter where we go, we see a miracle,” said Peters, who with Daisy, makes trips to elementary schools, nursing homes and adult rehabilitation facilities as a volunteer for Sunshine Friends. “You see a smile on someone's face. You see a child read who has struggled before. Dogs are affectionate creatures. They love you unconditionally, and that's important for people, especially people that can't have animals anymore. So we share.”
According to president Danielle Basciano, Sunshine Friends visits more than 50 facilities in Cayuga, Onondaga, Cortland and Madison counties and is likely expanding into Oneida County.
“Basically, our goal is to improve the quality of life for both people and animals through mutually beneficial interactions,” she said.
Rickaria Bruner took advantage of Daisy's visit and read to her “Biscuit's New Trick” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli.
“I read a book about a dog and I am reading to a dog,” said the 8-year-old third grader at Genesee, who took turns reading to Daisy with classmate Destiny Gould, 9, of Auburn.
“It was fun because I get to read to a dog,” Bruner said. “It's so nice to read to a dog and I love reading.”
Genesee Library Media Specialist Ann Mlod said Gould and Bruner spent nearly an hour with Daisy, alternating and then reading together.
“The pressure that they and other reluctant readers might have while reading to an adult is not there when they read to Daisy, she said.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
How to help
Basciano is looking for new volunteers that can continue providing those interactions in various venues around Auburn. Anyone with a pet that has a good temperament is welcome, she said. Interested people must go through an application process and have his or her pet go through an assessment that determines temperament and obedience.
Following that process, the volunteer duo must go through a volunteer orientation and a supervised visit to one of the on-site facilities, Basciano said.
For more information, visit www.sunshinefriends.org or call 457-7622.
“It was cool because I never read to a dog before,” Leonello said.
He carefully articulated the words written by author Kalli Dakos - who will be speaking to students in the five elementary schools in the Auburn Enlarged City School District this week and next - in her book, “The Bug in Teacher's Coffee and Other School Poems,” while Daisy sat next to him on a Clifford the Big Red Dog cushion.
“I was sitting right next to her and reading a book I never read before,” Leonello said. “I read every single (poem), too.”
Daisy and Peters have made three trips to Genesee Elementary School, giving third grade students a chance to read out loud to an impartial and affectionate creature.
“No matter where we go, we see a miracle,” said Peters, who with Daisy, makes trips to elementary schools, nursing homes and adult rehabilitation facilities as a volunteer for Sunshine Friends. “You see a smile on someone's face. You see a child read who has struggled before. Dogs are affectionate creatures. They love you unconditionally, and that's important for people, especially people that can't have animals anymore. So we share.”
According to president Danielle Basciano, Sunshine Friends visits more than 50 facilities in Cayuga, Onondaga, Cortland and Madison counties and is likely expanding into Oneida County.
“Basically, our goal is to improve the quality of life for both people and animals through mutually beneficial interactions,” she said.
Rickaria Bruner took advantage of Daisy's visit and read to her “Biscuit's New Trick” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli.
“I read a book about a dog and I am reading to a dog,” said the 8-year-old third grader at Genesee, who took turns reading to Daisy with classmate Destiny Gould, 9, of Auburn.
“It was fun because I get to read to a dog,” Bruner said. “It's so nice to read to a dog and I love reading.”
Genesee Library Media Specialist Ann Mlod said Gould and Bruner spent nearly an hour with Daisy, alternating and then reading together.
“The pressure that they and other reluctant readers might have while reading to an adult is not there when they read to Daisy, she said.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
How to help
Basciano is looking for new volunteers that can continue providing those interactions in various venues around Auburn. Anyone with a pet that has a good temperament is welcome, she said. Interested people must go through an application process and have his or her pet go through an assessment that determines temperament and obedience.
Following that process, the volunteer duo must go through a volunteer orientation and a supervised visit to one of the on-site facilities, Basciano said.
For more information, visit www.sunshinefriends.org or call 457-7622.