therapy dogs

Read Across America Day: Spotlight on Dogs Who Improve Literacy

March 2nd is Read Across America Day, and today we invite you to read all about a very special kind of therapy dog: reading dogs.

A special relationship exists between children and dogs. Children like to dress dogs up in clothes, play games with them like make-believe. As children and dogs interact so effortlessly, reading to dogs is a natural progression.

Meet Coco!

When Did Reading to Dogs Start?

The R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) Program was founded in November of 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Sandi Martin, a nurse and former ICU manager, was inspired by seeing the impact therapy dogs had on her patients. She noticed the way therapy animals encouraged patients to make progress in recovery.

Martin connected the dots and realized how dogs could affect that same motivation in children who are struggling in the area of reading.

A pilot was initialized at the city’s public library. Staff looked on as children read to dogs for the first time as part of an event. It was an effortless success as the children instantly bonded with the dogs and soon all were lost in the world of books.

Now thousands of programs have sprouted from coast to coast. With each dog to child connection, magic is made as both reader and listener reap the benefits of this intimate therapy relationship.

Why Are Children Reading To Dogs?

The sight of a child reading to a dog is sweet and endearing, but it’s more than just cute activity. These dogs are trained therapy animals who understand the role they fill in the presence of children.

While it is a fun activity, it’s fundamentally about therapy. Reading is a foundational skill for young learners and it doesn’t come easy for everyone.

63% of 4th-grade children read below grade level. Intervention programs are needed to improve the state of literacy in our country. Studies have shown that reading skills can improve up to 30% through dog reading therapy. With regular sessions, a progression of benefits is seen for both child and animal.

  1. Getting Comfortable with Reading

    In the first phase, children become more comfortable with reading aloud. A dog will listen without interruption (adults tend to correct a child’s diction). Children who have felt uneasy about reading aloud may finish a book without even thinking about it.

  2. Easing Anxiety

    Children who have been in traumatic situations, perhaps even bullying, deal with a lot of anxiety that interferes with their academic performance. Pets are known to have a calming effect on humans, so a dog naturally deescalates anxiousness and takes away the inhibition toward reading.

    Performance anxiety is another issue. Some children may shy away from reading aloud because they are worried that adults will judge them or other kids will make fun of them. A therapy dog is there to listen without judgment.

  3. Encouraging Kids to Read More

    A side benefit of these programs is an increased desire in children to want to read more often and for enjoyment. Reading to dogs removes a child’s resistance to reading and causes the child to associate reading with fun! 

  4. Emotional Nurturing

    For children who have been through challenging issues like a distressing home life, learning disabilities, and socialization troubles, a dog will have a positive emotional impact. The boost in confidence also helps the child’s emotional and mental well being.

Read More: Animals Who Work!

What’s In It For the Dogs?

As dog lovers we know that they live for attention and affection. When a child reads to a dog, they soak up every second of a child who is reading to them!

Reading therapy would be a perfect job for a dog who has had a difficult life. Some animal shelters have invited children to come read to intakes.

Check out this video of children spending time with shelter animals!

Are There Any Dog Reading Programs in the Columbus Area?

It does not appear that there are any active dog reading programs in the Columbus area. However, AngelPaws out of Newark OH is a R.E.A.D. program affiliate.

Is your dog well behaved around children? Would you like to make a difference in the lives of children? While the R.E.A.D. program website is geared toward those living in Utah and Montana, it has plenty of information for those who are interested in volunteering with their animals including a suitability guide.

Either AngelPaws or R.E.A.D are points of contact if any are interested in promoting literacy through reading therapy dogs in the Columbus, Ohio area.

Read More: How to Help Columbus Area Animal Organizations

There are a number of obstacles humans may not have been able to overcome if not for therapy animals. Reading dogs have proven to be highly effective in improving literacy and mental well being for children.

While we may not read to your them, your Columbus Ohio area dog sitting service will be sure to supply plenty of fun and attention for your dogs.

Call or text us today at (614) 439-1621.

Animals in the Workforce: These 9 Skilled Creatures Have Jobs

Labor Day is just around the corner. As we all know, this day was set aside to recognize the contribution of American workers.

While humans make up the bulk of the workforce, they aren’t the only ones who have jobs. Animals can be trained to work alongside humans.

Animals have sharper senses than humans, be it hearing, seeing or smelling. We recruit these creatures to amplify our abilities in the ways we fall short.

Horse Power

animals that have jobs.

Image: Wikipedia

Ages ago long-distance travel was made easier with the help of animals. Camels, donkeys, and, of course, horses carried humans on their backs or drove carts and carriages.

While horseback riding has become more of a tradition or recreational activity in modern times, horses are still used for police transportation.

From automobiles to motorcycles, and even helicopters a police force has access to all kinds of transportation. Horses don’t typically travel as fast as a car and they can’t fly as high as a helicopter, but they can provide officers a specific vantage point.

Mounted police can move through crowds with ease and be able to get a view where they can see the activities of a dense group of people.

It’s kind of funny that cars replaced horses, but riding horseback is a select alternative to the use of police cars and motorcycles.

Paws on Patrol

We better not leave the dogs out! They help the police too.

Police officers go through a rigorous screening and training process. They are prepared for a wide range of situations.

Sometimes their training just isn’t enough to do their jobs in the area of finding things and people. Human cops just don’t have the right nose for it.

On the criminal side of things, they will search for suspects or drugs. In emergencies, they can locate a missing person.

These select breeds are ideal for police work:

When the police need backup, their K9s are there.

Ratting Out Bombs

Dogs have some competition when it comes to the power of a nose.

Landmines are weapons of war that unfortunately are extremely dangerous to civilians. Long after a war is over, they are still dangerous to those who roam about the lands.

They are designed for destruction and can easily maim, kill, and otherwise injure innocent people.

Sniffer rats help find specific landmine locations. These giant rodent creatures save human lives. Giant pouch rats locate active mines with their noses but are too light to set them off.

Another way rats can provide life-saving advanced warning is their ability to detect deadly illnesses like cancer.

Dogs on Duty

Being disabled presents a variety of challenges. Dogs are ideal for helping those with these challenges get through daily life.

Choice breeds for this special role are Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.

Here are the ways service dogs help those who need special assistance:

  • Guides for the visually impaired
  • Alert the deaf to sounds that warrant a response
  • Help those who use wheelchairs
  • Aid those with balance issues
  • Companions for those with autism
  • Serve as a messenger for those who are at-risk for emergency response (seizures, diabetes, psychiatric conditions.)

Reminder: while Labs and Goldens are extremely pleasant to touch, please refrain from petting them. They must be distraction-free while on duty.

Personal Assistant Primates

Like dogs, monkeys are extremely intelligent and can be trained to help those with disabilities.

While assistance animals such as dogs are amazingly dutiful, they lack the fine motor skills that are needed to do human-designed tasks.

Capuchin monkies are trained by the Monkey Helpers organization to complete tasks for those who have limited mobility. These monkies are paired with those in need free of charge.

These small primates have the ideal dexterity to do things around the house for those who are wheelchair-bound or otherwise disabled.

What’s the best job in the world? Taking care of your pets! Fur Star Pet Care is your Columbus area in home pet care service. We take care of more than just dogs and cats. We also care for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and reptiles. Call or text us at (614) 439-1621.

Military Marine Life

Another of natures most intelligent creatures is the mammalian dolphin.

The military has found a way to employ marine life to work for them underwater.

Whales, dolphins, and seals can be utilized as maritime guards and may attack intruders. They can also assist divers.

Marine life can find targets, mines, and lost equipment.

Dolphins, in particular, have sonar hearing that can still detect motion amid noisy environments. This makes them the ideal scouts.

Even the best military divers cannot do what marine life does naturally.

Maybe these animals love their jobs or maybe they don’t. At Fur Star Pet Care we absolutely love our job of caring for animals. We’re proud to be your Columbus area in home pet care service! Call or text us at (614) 439-1621.

Dogs Make the Best Hunting Assistants

Dogs are hard-wired to be hunters.

Sighthounds will seek out hidden prey. Gun dogs will fetch the hunters’ foul. Terriers take the place of firearms and archery by killing the animals themselves.

While it’s not really necessary to hunt with dogs, some hunters insist on carrying on this tradition.

Pigeons That Deliver

Not long ago, the story got around that Amazon was planning to deliver packages with drones.

Carrier pigeons are the original drones. They were used to deliver messages during wars.

Watch this video about a shoe business that used pigeons to make deliveries:

Read More: All Creatures Great and Small, Pet Sitters Care for Them All

Professional Cuddlers

animals that have jobs.

Image: Nathan Boadle/Unsplash

You’ve probably heard of therapy dogs and horses. Even cats can be therapeutic to pet.

Have you heard of therapy rabbits though? Rabbits provide the same kind of emotional support as other animals in this class.

Read here about why rabbits make good therapy animals: https://esadoctors.com/8-reasons-getting-emotional-support-rabbit/

Did you know that Fur Star Pet Care offers in home rabbit care? We love animals so much we want to care for pets of all kinds. We’re your Columbus area pet care service. Call or text us at (614) 439-1621.