WHITE HALL — To someone with a learning disability, learning to read can be stressful and frustration closer at hand.
However, with a little encouragement from Ozzie the Reading Dog, learning to read becomes a little easier.
“Ozzie sits at the opening of the cubicle where the tutors are working with a student and he just senses it,” Pam Shanholtz, president of the board of directors of the Literacy Volunteers of Marion County, said. “He comes in, puts his head on their lap. They pet him a few times. A few doggy kisses later and they’re right back on track. It’s magical to watch.”
Ozzie’s contributions won’t stop there. To help fundraise for the work that the Literacy Volunteers do, Ozzie is competing in the America’s Favorite Pet competition, for a prize of $10,000. The winner of the competition will also be on the cover of Modern Dog or Modern Cat Magazine.
Susan May, executive director of the Literacy Volunteers and Ozzie’s owner, said the contest has been running since Jan. 29, but this week will be a crucial one. Ozzie needs to finish in the top position in his group or he’ll be out of the running.
“So, I’d just like to say, Marion County, let’s get behind Ozzie the Reading Dog and the Literacy Volunteers of Marion County,” May said. “Let’s put Marion County on the map.”
Part of Ozzie’s fame is his ability to read a short list of words. More than that though, he provides a gentle companion that helps readers improve their skills. May said Ozzie has his own little reading nook at the Literacy Volunteers office, where anyone can bring their own book and read to Ozzie.
“He never corrects, he never interrupts,” May said. “He just listens and you get to practice your reading skills aloud and get better.”
Ozzie’s reading mission is important because the illiteracy rate in Marion county is 19%. Statewide, the rate is roughly 21%. According to statistics collected by the Literacy Volunteers, 61% of crimes are committed by people who are functionally illiterate. Four out of 5 low-income 3rd grade students fail to meet a 3rd grade reading level.
May said the best way to combat that is to get children reading at an early age and making books available through the little free libraries. The Literacy Volunteers also provide tutoring and other services to help improve reading for all ages. Best of all, the services they provide are free.
Cara Simms, public relations manager for the Marion County Public Library System, said Literacy Volunteers are a common presence at the library, where they hold some of their courses. She said the volunteers have helped with the library’s summer reading program, Halloween and other events. The services the volunteers provide are essential for the community, Simms said.
“Literacy is a lot more important than people think, just for opening doors in general for people and especially in an area like Marion County where we have a lot of lower income families,” she said. “Being able to have access to things like Ozzie, the library and stuff helps with literacy and helps people get what they need to have access to that.”
Which is why Ozzie winning at the competition would be more than bragging rights. Shanholtz said that although they are volunteers, things such as training, materials, pay for tutors and other things cost money. The price of training materials and books has gone up significantly in the last four years.
Ozzie being crowned winner would help bring funding to the volunteers, so they can continue fulfilling their mission in Marion County.
May said everyone can vote daily on Facebook for free. However, if participants want to help tip the scales in Ozzie’s favor, they can also buy votes by donating to the Progressive Animal and Welfare Society. PAWS is a nonprofit that rehomes wildlife as well as dogs and cats that have been injured, and is a contest partner.
Money raised through vote buying will go to PAWS and help them take care of the animals they serve. This is also probably the only time when vote buying is not only OK, but encouraged. For every dollar spent, Ozzy gets one vote.
Voting for Ozzie can also be done at https://americasfavpet.com/2024/ozzie-df46.
“If he should win it, not only will it benefit the Literacy Volunteers but Marion County,” Shanholtz said. “Modern Dog Magazine is going to come and do an interview with him and Marion County will shine. It will be expressed that Marion County cares about their population enough to even support a reading dog.
“We’re not here just for our benefit. We’re here to benefit Marion County.”
Voting ends March 7 at 7 p.m. If Ozzie wins, Literacy Volunteers gets $10,000.