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Improving Your Child’s Reading Abilities — One Dog at a Time

By Barb Wilson

	Photo: Tony Nevett, used with permission from Intermountain Therapy Animals

When is the word “read” spelled w-o-o-f? When it’s Ottawa Therapy Dogs’ R.E.A.D program!

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs program (R.E.A.D.^®) involves registered therapy animals acting as reading companions to children. Introduced to Ottawa Therapy Dogs in 2004 by Chantelle Hutter, the program was originally developed by Intermountain Therapy Animals of Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1999.

The non-judgmental pooches make great listeners, and help to stimulate and encourage children’s love of books and reading. Often, children who have difficulty reading respond well to the presence of a therapy dog. It’s fun, empowering, and gives the young readers a sense of accomplishment as they improve their literacy skills.

Volunteer R.E.A.D. coordinator Julie Davies sees the benefit between animals and children, especially when it comes to learning and improvement. “Growing up with horses and dogs, I’ve seen how the presence of an animal can draw out a shy child, spark a curiosity, and inspire calm focus,” she says. Davies is also a former reviewer of children’s literature, and so brings added perspective to the program.

How the program works

During the 2010-2011 school year, seven R.E.A.D. teams visited Ottawa-area schools weekly, reading one-on-one with upwards of 45 children. “While we tend to concentrate our efforts on younger children in primary grades, we also visit with high school classes with special needs,” says Davies. Three other teams work outside of the school environment, at libraries, book clubs, and special events.

Volunteers of the two- and four-legged variety

Davies emphasizes the qualities required in both the human handler and the canine reading companion for the R.E.A.D. program: the volunteers should be compassionate, patient, caring, and prepared to commit one-and-onehalf to two hours per week to the program. “A number are retired individuals, but not all. Several have a background in speech therapy, teaching, or library services, but it’s not required,” explains Davies.

The furry half of the duo must be calm, gentle, obedient, and have an unflappable demeanour to withstand a school setting, with all of its distractions, noise, and general chaos. “The dogs need to literally be ‘bomb-proof ’,” says Davies. The dogs and handlers are put through their paces and evaluated in depth before being admitted into the R.E.A.D program. Most are therapy dogs that have experience visiting hospitals and other centres as part of Ottawa Therapy Dogs’ other programs.

Growing success

The R.E.A.D. program will have an additional six teams in place for the 2011- 2012 school year, for a total of 16. That’s because demand for the program is growing: Photo: Tony Nevett, used with permission from Intermountain Therapy Animals at times, there are more applicants than resources available to meet the need. As a registered charity, the program relies on volunteers and donations for its operation. If you are interested in knowing more about the program — as a volunteer, donor, or participant — visit www.ottawatherapydogs.ca.