Dog Team Profile

Pavlo & Erin!

Pavlo and Erin are one of SitStayRead’s beloved dog teams, helping young readers build confidence, comfort, and joy through reading.

Certified Good Boy

Meet Pavlo

Pavlo is a cosmic ambassador of love — wonderfully passive, endlessly sweet, and exactly the kind of dog who makes a classroom feel like the coziest place in the world. He listens attentively to anyone who reads, sings, or plays music, which makes him a natural fit for SitStayRead!

 

Blue animal paw prints of various sizes scattered on a plain white background, with the largest print on the left and smaller prints trailing to the right.
A brown dog wearing a blue assistance bandana sits on a blanket in a classroom with chairs, books, and toys visible in the background.

Pavlo’s Adoption Story

After losing their puggle Wrigley in 2020, Erin and her family waited patiently before opening their hearts again. When the time finally felt right, Erin opened PetFinder — and Pavlo was the very first dog listed. He was living with a foster in Lakeview, and the moment they met him, they knew he was the one. The cherry on top? He had been living on Nelson Street — the same name as the dog they had tried to adopt before him. It felt like fate.

Pavlo’s Personality

Pavlo is wonderfully passive and gentle, with an almost meditative calm about him. He loves people deeply and has a special talent for making everyone around him feel at ease.

Red heart icon with a white paw print in the center, symbolizing love for animals or pets, on a light gray circular background.

Pavlo’s Favorite Things

Pavlo loves adventuring through tall grass and natural areas, chasing squirrels back up their trees, and listening to people read, sing, or play music. He also has a deep appreciation for beef cheek rolls and a well-earned nap.

Blue cross with a white paw print in the center, suggesting a veterinary or pet care symbol.

Pavlo’s Least Favorite Things

Pavlo is not a fan of thunder, fireworks, loud noises, or dogs that look a little too much like wolves. Big waves on the lake are also a hard pass.

Illustration of a hand reaching to pet a dog's head with a red heart above the dog, symbolizing affection or care for animals.

Pavlo’s Perfect Day

Pavlo’s perfect day starts with jumping into bed for morning cuddles, followed by breakfast with extra bacon. Then it’s off to the beach for his Double Mama walk, where he checks the perimeter, sees all his friends, and maybe rubs himself on a stinky fish (his preferred cologne). The afternoon is reserved for napping, squirrel chasing, and chewing his beloved beef cheek roll. The evening wraps up with a neighborhood stroll full of dinner smells, butt sniffs, and a treat at every intersection — because he is, after all, the best boy.

Cartoon illustration of a person with brown hair and a blue jacket sitting next to a gray dog wearing a red collar.

Pavlo’s Nicknames

Erin calls him Pav, Bubba, Mister, Pavi, Husbubby, and Bestest Boi — a nickname collection as big as his personality.

A brown dog wearing a purple plaid jacket stands on a sandy beach with patches of ice and water in the background.
A brown dog wearing a blue assistance bandana sits on a blanket in a classroom with chairs, books, and toys visible in the background.
A tan and white dog with a collar sits on a sunny sidewalk near a park bench, with green trees and buildings in the background.
A tan and white dog sits on a dark rug indoors, with a colorful blanket and a gray pet bed in the background.

Meet Pavlo’s Human

How Erin Found SitStayRead

Erin and Pavlo joined SitStayRead as a dog team and have been volunteering together for almost a year. Erin’s favorite part is introducing Pavlo to kids and watching how gentle and sweet they are with each other. Her favorite memory? Getting comfortable enough with the students by the end of the semester to speak to them in better Spanish. Pavlo’s favorite part, naturally, is getting so cozy with the kids that he eventually just lies down and falls asleep.

Meet More SitStayRead Dog Teams

Every SitStayRead dog team brings a unique personality to the program, but they all share one important role: helping children feel more confident as readers.

Meet Other Dog Teams

Become a Dog Team Partner