Read with Therapy Dogs
It may sound a little odd to hear, “Hey, Mom, I read to a dog today!” But when the Caring K9s R.E.A.D.® teams pull into the parking area, children say just that. They run to sign up and read with a four-legged friend, leaving skateboards and video games behind. It’s no secret; reading is FUN when done with a dog!
The R.E.A.D.® literacy program is built around the idea of children reading to dogs. Students are invited to read to a friend (a certified therapy dog), who is able to listen attentively, never judges or criticizes, allows the child to read at their own pace, helps them to relax, and even helps lower their blood pressure and heart rate. The results of these programs are significant, with students showing improvement in communication skills, reading fluency, comprehension, and self-esteem.
The non-profit, Caring K9s Therapy Dogs Maui is dedicated to improving the quality of people’s lives through the magic of dog visitation therapy. Melodie Ulman founded Caring K9s in 2012, when she and her husband relocated to Maui.
Currently, the Caring K9 organization has over 20 dedicated volunteer handler and dog teams, who make comfort visits, specific animal assisted therapy visits, run animal care education programs, and coordinate Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D. ®) programs with certified therapy dogs. These Caring K9s currently make visits to Hale Makua Skilled Nursing homes, Rosalani Place Assisted Living Community, Maui Adult Day Care Centers, Hospice Maui and Islands Hospice patients, Kansha Preschool, and the Maui Boys and Girl’s Clubs.
Caring K9s has R.E.A.D.® programs at four of the island’s Boys and Girls Clubs, and is intending to have these programs at all the Boys and Girls Clubs around the island, as well as other after school programs (such as YMCA and A+), and hopes to expand to all elementary schools on the island in the near future. Carden Academy will begin a Caring K9s lead R.E.A.D.© program next fall!
For more information, contact Caring K9s Therapy Dogs Maui at caringk9smaui.org.
