Wearing a bandana around her neck and eyeglasses on her nose, the silky-coated Samantha was a favorite among Licking County children who participated in the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) program.

To owner Patti Shanaberg, however, the 14-year-old golden retriever/collie mix was her "heart and soul," she said.

Samantha, affectionately known as Sami, died Feb. 4 from a cancerous tumor that had been diagnosed in mid-January.

The dog was the inspiration behind Newark's Angel Paws Animal Assisted Activities and Therapy, which Shanaberg founded in 2003 and directs.

"I was so blessed with this special dog that had an exceptionally rare combination of intelligence and gentle yet enthusiastic sweetness," Shanaberg said. "It was a privilege to be on the other end of her leash while she touched so many lives."

In 2005, the pair completed Intermountain Therapy Animal's first "Reading Rendezvous" READ conference and Instructor's Training Workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, and along with four other Angel Paws animal/handler children's literacy mentoring volunteer teams formed the first and only registered READ affiliate program in Ohio.

The Puppy Tales with Angel Paws/READ debuted at the Newark Public Library in 2006. In addition to the benefit of having children look forward to reading, the goal of letting them read to dogs in the Puppy Tales program is to improve their reading fluency, reading comprehension and self-confidence.

Sadie Smith, Newark Public Library children's librarian, said all the kids loved Samantha.

"She was good with all kinds of people and she was patient and friendly," Smith said. "The kids loved to read to her. They would feel comfortable reading to her."

Angel Paws volunteer hours (all inspired by Samantha) as of Jan. 1 total 4,320, with 1,978 of those hours being actual health care visitation or literacy mentoring session.

Samantha documented more than 319 hours of service -- 199 of which were health care visitation or literacy mentoring sessions for more than 1,189 children and adults.

Samantha was a mainstay at every Angel Paws community relations booth, including Pooches In The Park; Magical Night of Giving and other Indian Mound Mall activities; Kids First Fest; New Albany Classic Grand Prix and Family Day; and numerous community presentations, orientations, trainings and speaking engagements.

Since Shanaberg is in a wheelchair as the result of an equestrian accident, Samantha used to put her front paws on her owners' toes to make it easier for people in a wheelchair to reach her.

"People got a kick out of that," said Shanaberg, who adopted Samantha from an animal shelter in Los Angles in 1996. The two moved to Newark in 2001.

Since 1999, they have served as a registered Delta Society Pet Partners Volunteer Therapy Team in a variety of health care facilities.

Samantha played an active role in training more than 30 registered Pet Partner animal/handler volunteer teams since Angel Paws began in Licking County, and she's been the founding Therapy Dog in every standards-based program Angel Paws has implemented at local facilities, including Flint Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation; Shepherd Hill Behavioral Health, a department of Licking Memorial Hospital; Hospice of Central Ohio; Autumn Health Care; New Beginnings Women's Shelter, a department of The Woodlands; Kairos Academy; Newark Public Library; Lil Puppy Tales at Indian Mound Mall; and Pony Express Therapeutic Riding.

"She loved visiting with everyone," Shanaberg said. "She loved it all, anything with other people or dogs. She was very well-rounded dog. She helped a lot of people not only through visitation but she was the inspiration to start Angel Paws in Newark."

Angel Paws also suffered the loss of Yankee, a greyhound, in January. He was owned by Salena Thrasher of Granville. Yankee gave Angel Paws more than 175 hours of service.

Condolences and memorial contributions may be made in Samantha's or Yankee's memory to Angel Paws at 1280 Hillview Circle W., Newark 43055 or on-line at www.NetworkForGood.org or Angel Paws' Facebook Cause page at angelpawstherapy.org.

Contributions will go to support Angel Paws programs.