Animals Helping People: Reading Education Assistance Dogs

Anyone who has a dog knows what a great listener their dog is. When you need to vent or cry or just talk something out, there is your dog, always willing to lend an ear, never making a judgment or trying to solve the problem, he’s just there, listening to whatever you need to say. This is therapy that all dog owners get as part of the package.

The ability to just listen without judgment is a gift, and one kids need as much as adults.

I love the R.E.A.D. program originally developed by Intermountain Therapy Animals inSalt Lake City. The idea is to encourage kids to read, especially kids who are struggling with it, by having them read to a dog. The dog is happy to lie there and listen. It does not hurry the child when he struggles with a word, nor does the dog correct the child when she pronounces something wrong. The dog just lies there, patiently, and listens without judgment.

The more kids read, the better they become at it, and no one, no one, likes to be made to feel stupid. The dogs give the kids a chance to practice and are just happy to be there.

The programs have now spread throughout the country, with just about every state having at least one R.E.A.D. affiliated program. Consider finding the one in your area to volunteer with.