Guide dog delights children at Pottsville reading camp

Jul. 16—POTTSVILLE — Gabriel Sidella sat attentively in a semicircle with 17 other children. To his delight, Lenny McHugh took the harness off his service dog, Otter, who walked up to Gabriel and gave him a friendly lick on the face.

"He's really cool, just like my dog Bruno," the 8-year-old from Pottsville said.

McHugh, of Pottsville, visited Trinity Episcopal Church's summer reading camp Friday to talk about his 8 1/2 -year-old guide dog. As the children, ages 5 to 10, and the camp adult volunteers watched, McHugh, who has been blind since childhood, told how Otter helps him.

"He's my eyes," he told them. "He keeps me from falling over."

He explained how Otter, whom he got 6 1/2 years ago from Cassville, New York-based Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, leads him. McHugh also emphasized the importance of not petting a guide dog when its working. People want to pet Otter "all the time," but it takes his focus off of helping, McHugh said.

He said Otter has two personalities: a serious one when he's in his harness and a fun one when he isn't.

After his talk he took Otter's harness off, and the dog greeted the children, who petted him as he walked by.

"He's very nice and likes licking people's faces," said Samantha Meronvil, 10, as she pet him.

The Saint Clair resident said Otter was the "nicest dog I've ever met."

Gabriel said he likes dogs and that they calm him.

McHugh, a retired computer programmer, also does magic and woodworking. He concluded his visit by doing a magic show for the children. Assisting him were his wife, Karen McHugh, and Cayleigh Collins, a member of Boy Scout Troop 604 of Port Carbon, for which McHugh is committee chair.

McHugh's visit capped the weeklong camp that helps children in grades preK-4 with reading skills. Coordinator Barbara Tokarz said the camp, which Trinity has hosted since 2018, allows children to develop interest in reading, review existing skills and combat the summer learning slump.

This year's camp focused on dogs, with an emphasis on service dogs. During the week, participants met representatives from Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue in New Ringgold; an accelerant-sniffing dog from the Reading Fire Department; and a K-9 unit from the Pennsylvania State Police that sniffs out explosives.

They also had the opportunity to read to dogs brought in by community members, which Tokarz said make the children more eager to read.

"They look forward to it, and it helps their self-confidence because the dog won't say anything if they make a mistake," she said.

Other camp activities included a visit to the Pottsville Free Public Library for story hour and library cards, bowling, bingo and fishing for letters. Participants were also encouraged to read a half-hour every night, with the children receiving coupons from McDonald's and Dairy Queen for doing so.

The children left camp Friday with packets of school supplies and books courtesy of Scholastic Corp. Splash the Clown, aka Pottsville resident John Sullivan, made balloon animals for the children.

The books and lunches provided daily were paid for by the five Episcopal parishes in Schuylkill County.

Contact the writer: clee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6028; @Cleespot on Twitter