Pet Therapy/ Animal-Assisted Therapy/ R.E.A.D. Teams

Save to Favorites

CAREing Paws, Inc. is looking for persons and their dogs to become certified therapy dog teams that will visit with people in nursing homes, hospitals, senior facilities, libraries and schools. In addition, we also participate in many special events all throughout the year such as stress relief to students before final exams, mental health awareness events, working with children and adults with disabilities, and more!

Sometimes we visit with clients to help bring a smile to their face or to share a little joy and brighten their day. Other times we are an integral part of a treatment plan and we work alongside a professional to help clients achieve their goals and objectives.

After you become a registered Therapy Team, there is additional training for you, the handler to do the R.E.A.D. program (if you wish). We offer the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) training at least quarterly.

The mission of CAREing Paws R.E.A.D. Teams is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of nationally registered therapy animal-owner/handler teams as literacy mentors. CAREing Paws utilizes these Therapy Teams who volunteer to go to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children. The utilization of registered therapy teams is the foundation of CAREing Paws, in order to ensure that the animals have been trained and tested for health and safety, appropriate skills and temperament, and are insured for liability.

Animals are ideal reading companions to children because they:

• Help increase relaxation and lower blood pressure
• Listen attentively
• Do not judge, laugh or criticize
• Allow children to proceed at their own pace
• Are less intimidating than their peers.

Children improve their reading skills in a unique, fun, and safe environment. The dogs have a way of reaching children when all other more conventional methods have failed. When a CAREing Paws dog is listening, the environment is transformed, a child's dread is replaced by eager anticipation, and learning occurs. The handler is a skilled facilitator too - shifting performance pressure off the child and providing support, while the child gets the supervised reading practice necessary to build vocabulary, increase understanding of the material, and gain fluency as a reader.

Service to and giving back to those with whom we share our communities is a goal for each of our dedicated volunteers and their animals. Please let us know what questions you have and how we can help!