When your child learns to read, building confidence is often an obstacle that he or she must work to overcome. The PAWS to R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs®) program offers children an opportunity to read to a registered, insured therapy dog (and the dog's handler) at our Robins-Starr Humane Center. Reading to a dog allows your child to build confidence as she’s learning because reading to a dog provides an experience that is always positive and free of judgment. Plus, dogs love all kinds of books!
Our dog and handler team varies from month to month. Bernard, a Richmond SPCA alumnus, will serve as the therapy dog for the PAWS to R.E.A.D. program this month. He was adopted in July 2008. Bernard used to be a shy pup, but his experience being a "listener" at Ginter Park Elementary School helped his personality blossom. He is proof that what you give, you receive. PAWS to R.E.A.D. can be a win-win situation for dogs as well as children!
PAWS to R.E.A.D. is a joint program of the Richmond SPCA and Sprite’s HERO, a volunteer humane education and research organization. Sessions are held on the third Sunday of every month from 2-3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of our humane center. All ages of readers are welcome to participate. To sign up for a 25-minute reading session call Gail Bird Necklace, our Education and Training Administrator, (804) 521-1332. You are welcome to bring a favorite title or choose from the wide selection of books in the Richmond SPCA's Exploratorium.
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