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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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!

10. 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