A cute and meaningful program is looking for dogs and their owners to help children learn to read.
Story Dogs is a therapeutic program that helps children feel at ease and confident while learning to read.
The successful initiative has now expanded to Wyndham.
Local co-orindator Wendy Jenner said seeing the impact the pooches have on youngsters is heart-warming.
“I love to see the children gain confidence and start to view reading as something they enjoy rather than being a challenge for them,” she said.
“The dogs have a very calming effect on the children, too.”
The canines and their keen owners don’t have to be experts either, just cool customers.
“The dogs don’t have to be super well trained either, they just have to be quiet, of average obedience, have basic skills and not be aggressive,” Ms Jenner said.
“You just need to love kids enough to want to be involved with them.”
It turns out that some dogs have the right disposition to help kids hit their stride.
“Dogs just seem to have that effect on people– they don’t judge the kids on their reading.
“Dogs just like being with people, it doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong, they just love you for who you are.
“It really is such a rewarding thing to do as a volunteer. For me I like children and I like dogs, so it is wonderful being able to work with both in a way that benefits both.”
Volunteers only have to give a minimum of two hours of their time a week.
More: https://www.storydogs.org.au/how-to-volunteer
