n l COVER STORY

He’s one cool cat ... only Luther is a dog that’s on a mission with his owner to promote reading and spread cheer.

BY MARY ELLE HUNTER
PHOTOS BY RACHAEL SANTILLANN

Have you heard of Luther Diablo Vassallo? Or perhaps seen his business card and Web site, learnwithluther.com?

Luther “the learning dog” is happiest when he’s
with family, children and older people, or in
parades. He also likes to wear costumes, like
this graduation ensemble.

In Moore County, Luther — who has a penchant for wearing costumes ranging from a cowboy to a private detective — is a favorite at parades and community events. Call him a local celebrity.

Luther also is the recipient of the Moore County School System’s 2006 Volunteer of the Year Award, and was honored earlier this year by the North Carolina Association for Community Education with a presentation of its Mary Jane Kistler Volunteer Award. This furry friend of Moore County school children is — you guessed it — a lovable canine.

The chocolate Lab mix began his career as a Moore County school volunteer this past September, after his owner, Rebecca Vassallo, answered a call issued by Linda Hubbard, the volunteer coordinator of the Moore County School System, for “reading buddies.” Linda was looking for volunteers to help first-graders improve their reading abilities.

From that modest beginning, this one-time shelter dog has become a reading pal to scores of school children, visiting more than half of the schools in the county, as well as being a regular reading “assistant” at the Moore County Literacy Council, the Sandhills Children’s Center, and making appearances at 10 after-school programs for kids.

Teachers have been impressed with the vast improvement in the reading skills of the participating students since Luther started his appearances at schools. Rebecca Vassallo, a retired emergency room physician, offers her own explanation.

“When a student sits down to read to a dog, their anxiety level is decreased and they are relaxed. It gives a child a focus and puts them in an environment free of judgment and expectation,” she says. “Reading now becomes fun with a furry friend by their side. The safe atmosphere created by the dog invites the child to take charge, and greatly increases their self-esteem.”

FORMING C.A.R.E.

Since there is only one of Luther, and because of the increasing demand for his services, Linda Hubbard decided to form a canine visitors bureau, known as Luther & Friends, patterned after the standard speakers’ bureau the school system has in place. The new program is designated by the acronym “C.A.R.E.” — which stands for Canine Assisted Reading Education.

William McPhatter, a second-grader at Southern Pines Primary, enjoys reading to Luther (who’s
decked out in his pajamas).

Linda’s plan is to use other canines and their owners, as well. The stated mission of the program is to expand a child’s interest and confidence in reading, thereby laying the groundwork for a lifetime of education that will ultimately lead to a higher quality of life. Another component of the program is teaching responsible pet ownership in the classroom, again using volunteers and their pets.

C.A.R.E. membership requires that the dog must pass its AKC Canine Good Citizenship Test and be tested by a Certified Therapy Dogs International evaluator. In order to expedite canines joining the C.A.R.E. program, Linda has made arrangements for local training, and encourages all pet owners who may be interested to sign up during the summer, so that they can get the necessary certifications in time to join Luther’s team early in the upcoming school year.

Luther has been certified through Therapy Dogs International and also has had his AKC Canine Good Citizenship designation since 2003. Luther was only three months old when he was adopted in 2001 by Rebecca, a retired emergency-room physician, and her cardiologist husband, Peter. Volunteers from The Haven no-kill animal shelter were stationed outside of a supermarket, trying to find good homes for several animals when the Vassallos first spotted Luther. “He made our hearts smile with his captivating eyes,” says Rebecca.

As he grew out of puppyhood, Rebecca noticed that unlike the couple’s three other dogs, Luther had a very distinctive personality and disposition. “He was enthusiastic, friendly and always happy to greet visitors. I thought it would be a good idea if he could be trained to be something more than just a regular house pet. So I enrolled him at a Therapy Dog training center in Sanford, and, as the old cliché goes, the rest is history.”

Rebecca and Luther started by making the rounds of assisted-living facilities and nursing homes. Then she observed during the course of these visits that if there children also visiting, Luther loved to be petted by them and interacted well with them. So she added the Children’s Center in Southern Pines to her list, and ultimately, he became a “reading buddy.”

A LEGION OF FANS

“Luther has achieved rock star status in Moore County,” says Linda Hubbard. “Everywhere he goes, he is recognized. He has ridden in parades, was the honorary chair of the Moore Literacy Council Golf Tournament, and attended the Council’s Spelling Bee as a special guest. He has been featured on local television programs, and he had his own seat in the auditorium at the Southern Pines Primary Patriotic Program, where he was welcomed from the stage by a thrilled student body.”

According to Rebecca Vassallo, who now spends 20 to 30 hours a week accompanying Luther on his travels around Moore County, “the Canine Assisted Reading Education program may sound like a fuzzy feel-good program, which it is! But it is also something more. It is a success because it encourages children to improve their reading level, and to become proficient readers.”

Vassallo, who worked as a substitute teacher and also taught in a technical school before becoming a physician, has a natural feel for what stimulates a student.

“I have seen shy, hesitant students begin to read with greater confidence,” she says. “They become willing to take chances with new vocabulary, diction and inflection. Their voices grow stronger and the words flow more easily. They are proud of their accomplishments, and having a canine reading buddy provides educators with a good motivational tool.

“The children even become willing to miss recess to have a turn to read to Luther – that says it all!”

Want to learn more about becoming involved in the Luther & Friends Canine Visitors Bureau? An introductory session for pet owners and their dogs is Aug. 10 in Carthage. For more information, call Linda Hubbard at (910) 947-2342, or e-mail her at lhubbard@mcs.k12.nc.us. n