Pawsitive Pets Inc. helping kids learn to read- one bark at a time! I LOVE PAWSOME READERS! Reading rocks! WOOF! Photo credits: Pawsitivepets.org

About: Pawsitive pets jacksonville Founded in 2005 with the goal of recruiting Pet Therapy teams to serve the community of Jacksonville Uses the READ program with dogs “reading to kids” The child reads to a dog, with the premise being that children will find reading to a dog less intimidating than reading to a teacher Usually third-fifth graders who are trying to meet FCAT reading standards Handlers use their own dogs that pass a national certification standard before working in schools *All information and photo credit is according to www.PawsitivePets.org

Photos of Pawsitive Pets dogs in libraries cultivating reading skills with local children Photo credits: www.Pawsitivepets.org

Schools, hospitals and rehabilitation centers- $50 annually How do I become a member? Schools, hospitals and rehabilitation centers- $50 annually Pawsitive Partnership- $30 registration fee with annual dues for renewal Photo credits: Google Images and www.Pawsitivepets.org

Mary Bennett Harvey and Roxie Roxie,12-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever Nicknamed “Roxie the Rockstar” Handler Mary Bennett Harvey, local Public Relations agency owner and volunteer One of the great pet handler teams of Pawsitive Pets Roxie and Harvey at University of North Florida talking to students about PPI

Certification to become a Pet-Assisted Therapy team First, potenial handlers must speak with Kelly Blackburn-Perkins, Executive Director of PPI Dogs must pass AKC Good Citizen Canine testing to ensure proper composure with children Finally, a Wyoming-based program called Therapy Dogs International certifies the pet Handler then watches a video & reads a book about interacting with children to wrap up the training process Perkins, Pawsitive Pets’ Executive Director Photo Credit: Google Images

Spring Park Elementary School The school that Mary Bennett Harvey and Roxie volunteer in…grades three, four and five PPI’s services exist there due to the efforts of guidance counselor Stacy McLeod Spring Park is a perfect example of how to get PPI into local schools…according to McLeod, she heard about it through a newsletter Photo credit: Google Images

Heartfelt inspiration “Anything we do is progress.” –Mary Bennett Harvey on how to quantify the success of the READ program. Harvey often allows children to walk Roxie back to class, leash in hand, after reading sessions. She believes that this inspires confidence and independence. Photo credit: Google Images

Photo credit: Google Images So…Why READ? Therapy Dogs Work Photo credit: Google Images Studies have shown that reading to an animal is less intimidating than to a teacher or authority figure Children are selected for the READ program by the efforts of guidance counselors and teachers To be selected, a child may have troubles with reading and/or behavior Animals not only improve educational ability, but mood and energy levels, too!

Advancing the learning abilities of children throughout Duval County Students with their completed READ certificates More of Harvey’s great work Photo credit: Google Images