Through their natural connection, humans and dogs possess an ability to communicate. Dogs hear and listen to humans.

It is that premise, that assertion, upon which the Lititz Public Library (LPL) Paws 2 Read program is based. Kids hone and enhance their reading skills by slowing down and directing their words and sentences to dogs.

"The dogs are nonthreatening," said Karen Payonk, who's been the library's youth services director and assistant director for 24 years. "We want the kids to be comfortable. The dogs are also nonjudgmental. They don't care if the child is stumbling over the words. Most of the time (the interaction) is one-on-one. Kids learn to take their time. The dogs help calm the kids. But you wouldn't believe how much their reading improves. This is a win-win for everyone."

During the school year, LPL conducts its Paws 2 Read program at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 651 Kissel Hill Road. Over the summer, LPL presents the program three times a month.

Paws 2 Read is free to attend, but registration is encouraged.

"It's been discovered that youth are reading and doing a lot of reading," said Payonk. "But they're not doing much reading out loud. They're reading, they're doing a lot of reading, but it's silent. It's totally different when you're reading out loud. We're trying to get kids used to reading out loud. When they're doing it, they're stumbling and uncomfortable."

"They already know how to read," she added. "They're going to get better. We don't do any teaching."

Paws 2 Read is designed for young readers ages 4 to 12, but there are no age restrictions placed on participants. The kids, who mainly reside in the Warwick School District, each spend about 15 minutes reading to the trained therapy dogs.

"Some of the children are struggling in school," said Payonk. "But it seems like every kid needs help in their aloud reading. Even if a child is reading slowly, the next child will wait patiently. There is so much out there that requires reading. I love to read for just enjoyment. There are a lot of reasons for reading, and everyone has their reasons for reading."

All of the trained therapy dogs coming to the library are accompanied by their owners or handlers. There are greyhounds, coonhounds, pugs, golden retrievers, poodles and Labradors.

"For some of the kids, it may be their only way to interact with dogs," said Payonk. "As they read, they're petting the dog the whole time. You can see how relaxed the dogs are. Some of the dogs are right in the face of the child. Some of them may just lay down and close their eyes. We tell the children, 'Your voice is very soothing.' Sometimes the child will turn the book around to show the dog photos."

"It doesn't even have to be real-life dogs," added Payonk. "It can be stuffed animals, but read out loud. Audiobooks are perfect for people to know how reading out loud is supposed to be."

Paws 2 Read, which was established in 2003, is very much in line with LPL's mission to serve the community by promoting reading.

"Just about every library in Lancaster County has dogs coming in," said Payonk. "All of the public libraries are part of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Of course, reading and books are good things if we're helping schools, helping kids and helping families. Reading can be very traumatic for children who are struggling with reading. This is something you do for them. You're learning, but you don't know you're learning when you're having fun. We try to make it fun."

For additional information about the Lititz Public Library, go to https://lititzlibrary.org.