Children Practice Reading to Therapy Dog in Worthington

by Jonathan Weaver

Local children looking for someone to read to after school are invited to make a four-legged friend at the Worthington Library.

Therapy dog Stella listens to all kind of stories – from Dr. Seuss to picture books – from young readers, Worthington Library Director Jillian Larko said.

Larko said at least three children come in to read to Stella monthly.

She has heard of patrons reading to dogs and cats, but didn’t witness the reading until she became library director five months ago.

“I think it’s good for the kids – especially if they’d be nervous to read in front of people,” Larko said. (Stella) seems to enjoy it, too.”

But, nerves aren’t an issue for seven-year-old Samson Bozzelli – a first-grader at West Hills Primary. Samson read several books to Stella and her owner, Samantha Werksman – including “Five Little Pumpkins” “The Cat in the Hat” and acting out “Eight Silly Monkeys.”

Mother, Sara, said Samson reads often and visited the library even before Stella came.

“He’s very theatrical and he loves to read,” Sara said. “He’s been coming to read to Stella for about a year or so – since she started coming to the library.”

Werksman, of Worthington, said seven-year-old Stella has been a certified therapy dog for four years. Werksman adopted Stella – a Rottweiler-mix from Ohio found at Rom-Ger-Am Rottweiler Rescue in Latrobe (Westmoreland County) – about six years ago, and has always found the dog a good listener.

“She’s always acted like this – always so sweet and good, mild-mannered and loves people - so we knew this would be a good career for her,” Werksman said. “For two years when she first got certified, she went to Sunnyview Nursing (and Rehabilitation Center in Butler) before I broke my foot and we had to stop going. But, this was close for us so it was easy - and she loves her little kids.”

But, at home, Stella “is a ball of energy” with Werksman’s three other dogs – another Rottweiler twice Stella’s size and two Coonhounds. It’s also quite a change from the nursing home for Stella – from getting rolled over by wheelchairs to sitting beside elementary students. Werksman said Stella identifies each returning reader by their unique personality.

“It’s all so natural for (Stella) – she comes out and knows the drill,” Werksman said.

Caretaker at Winning Key Farm (which manages nearly 200 competitive race horses), Werksman is also an avid reader, and has told stories to Stella, but never read to her.

Children aged 6-12 are invited to read to Stella at 4PM the second Thursday of each month.