SLIDESHOW: Paws to READ

Haley Lavach had the audience hanging on her every word as she read, "So You Want to Be President?" out loud at the Ashland Library.

That is, until Sprite decided it was time for a belly rub.

"I don't mind," said Haley, 10. "He listens pretty well."

Sprite is a new breed of reading buddy. He's usually attentive, great with kids and never talks back. But he is demanding. If he's not shamelessly rolling on his back, he's rubbing against legs looking for a firm scratch behind the ears.

Sprite is a dog, one of thousands nationwide helping children improve their reading skills through Reading Education Assistance Dogs. Started in Salt Lake City in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals, the program uses registered therapy dogs to help children build self-confidence through reading.

"Children feel safe with dogs," said Kathy Klotz, executive director of Intermountain Therapy Animals, during a phone interview. "They trust and they feel listened to."

READ has about 2,000 teams (dogs

and handlers) across the country. Virginia is home to 42 registered teams, including Paws to READ in Richmond. The group of 14 handlers and eight dogs is making regular rounds to libraries, elementary schools, book stores and the Richmond SPCA.

"It's totally non-stressful for the kids," said Chris Miller coordinator for Paws to READ. "It's non-threatening. Dogs are non-judgmental. They can't sit there and say, 'Hey, you got that wrong.' That doesn't just help a child's reading skills, it helps build their confidence in everything else."

Miller organized Sprite's HERO, named for her 13-year-old Lhasa Apso mix, eight years ago. The two have volunteered for traditional therapy work since, visiting nursing homes and hospitals regularly.

When she heard about a READ program in Maryland, she decided to start a local affiliate. In 2006, she and nine volunteers began visiting Randolph-Macon College. Under the guidance of Alva Hughes, an associate professor of psychology, nine elementary school children visited the Ashland campus every week to read to dogs.

"This is changing their attitude toward reading," Hughes said. "They are excited about reading. I think that will have an impact on reading ability."

She hopes the program will continue to grow so that she can collect enough data to support her hypothesis. Nationwide, though, the proof might already be in. According to READ, students who spend 20 minutes a week reading to dogs improve two to four grade levels in one school year.

"It's not just entertainment," Klotz said. "It's having a positive impact on a child's reading ability."

The reason is simple, Miller said. Kids love dogs.

"It's easier to read to a dog than a person," said 10-year-old Jamie Doyle, a fifth-grader at Gandy Elementary School in Hanover County. "They listen very well. And they don't judge us."

Jamie read a portion of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to Sandy, another therapy dog, at the Ashland Library on Tuesday night. The small Lhasa Apso cocked her head when Lucy approached the wardrobe for the first time. By the time the fictitious character was rubbing her face on the fur coats, Jamie was using her free hand to stroke Sandy's soft furry ears. Before she knew it, she had been reading aloud for 30 minutes.

"Not only are they reading their words, but they are reading with understanding," said Allene Tyler, Sandy's owner. "It's great to see."

READ is aimed at children in elementary school, but older children with disabilities also benefit, Klotz said.

"It's wonderful for those who are painfully shy or afraid to read out loud in a large class setting," she said. "When they are with the dogs, they are convinced they will understand the story if they tell it carefully."

Children will often turn the book toward the dog to share pictures and discuss pivotal scenes. But most of the time, they are content just knowing the dog is there.

"Reading, especially out loud, is a hard thing for kids," Miller said. "The dogs help take that pressure off. And as long as they get a belly rub out of it, well, they are all for that."

Contact Janet Caggiano at (804) 649-6157 or jcaggiano@timesdispatch.com.