Chelsea WilsonN00816456

“My Therapist Has a Wet Nose”

Pawsitive Pets pet assisted therapy service works with elementary school level children to share love, comfort and connection of the human animal bond. The international R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assisted Dog) program works with Pawsitive Pets to help encourage children to read while having fun.

According to R.E.A.D, research shows that therapy animals help children with low self-esteem. The children with low self-esteem are often more willing to interact with an animal than another person. They are inclined to forget about their limitations when in an environment with a friendly animal.

The premise of the R.E.A.D program is that children will find reading to an animal less intimidating; creating a special time for them that is helpful, entertaining and positive. Reading is such an important aspect of education in a child’s life. This program will greatly encourage a child to have a willingness to want to read, and be comfortable with reading.

The R.E.A.D dogs for Pawsitive Pets have to go through extensive training to be certified for the program. The therapy dogs have to go through a national certification program as well as certification within Pawsitive Pets. The dogs in the R.E.A.D program are extremely qualified and well-behaved around children. The therapy dogs go to the schools, sit on a quilt and have each child read to them. The children feel at ease and truly believe the dog is listening to them read.

Heidi Graves, a pet therapist and small animal veterinarian, and her therapy dog Oakley are new to Pawsitive Pets, but Graves says that even in her short amount of time with the program she can already see how beneficial it is. She volunteers at Julington Creek Elementary and is absolutely amazed at the improvements she has seen in the children so far. “The kids absolutely adore Oakley and are envied that they get to read to the dog. I have had multiple request from teachers for us to come visit their classroom,” said Graves.

“The feedback I have gotten so far has been 100 percent positive; the principal just put Oakley into the school’s newsletter as well. Personally, anything that gets kids excited about reading, and reading more, seem to be a bonus,” said Graves. “I absolutely know the program works; I just wish there were more teams available to help more kids in more schools.”

Joan Streightiff and her therapy dog Lindy have volunteered for Pawsitive Pets R.E.A.D program for the last two years. She believes fully that a child does benefit from the program. She said that the R.E.A.D program’s benefits are proven in the results of high test scores and more importantly when she sees a child’s willingness to read.

When asked what she would tell a teacher who is interested in allowing students to use the program she said, “Honestly, the research on pet therapy shows that it helps children in many ways. Research shows if a child has difficulty reading in front of the teacher and class their blood pressure spikes, but when you bring a dog into the situation their blood pressure goes down 50 percent.” Streightiff added, “It makes the children more relaxed because they are in control.”

Joan Streightiff shared her greatest memory with the program, she said, “I could talk for a long time. I love how the children really believe that the dog understands everything and how they talk to her. Normally I give them a stuffed animal “Little Lindy” to take home and read to at night.”

“I also at the end of the program give them a book based on what the child likes and Lindy gives them a note that has a pawtograph.” Streightiff said, “It really helps children with low self-esteem, who are the ones who can’t keep up, and now they are reading great because of reading to the dogs.”

Another volunteer, Mary Bennett Harvey and her therapy dog Roxie have been volunteering for Pawsitive Pets for five years. She volunteers at Spring Park Elementary School every Tuesday with six children that rotate every four weeks. She sees various children from different ethnicities and truly sees the passion that the children have for reading when they sit down with the therapy dog.

“It is an incredible feeling when I walk into the school and the buzz that Roxie is there excites all the children. I meet parents who say they have a picture of Roxie on their fridge because their child loves Roxie and loves to read now,” said Harvey. “It is seeing a child who struggled with reading, now feel comfortable and confident, that makes this process worthwhile.”

Pawsitive Pets R.E.A.D program is an excellent program that teachers should take advantage of. It is an unconventional way to teach students to love reading and feel more comfortable. Between the stuffed animal dog toys, positive feedback, and popularity of the dogs in the schools, it is obvious why the R.E.A.D program is beneficial to the school system. If interested in bringing Pawstive Pets to your school call 904-992-4533 or visit the website at www.pawsitivepets.org.