R.E.A.D.®

Our R.E.A.D.® Program

We also support young children who are not sick but need a friendly paw to help with their reading skills. The statistics are clear. We have a literacy issue in our country. Sixty-eight percent of fourth-grade children in the United States are reading below the proficiency level. Mutts On A Mission has become an affiliate with Intermountain Therapy Animals, based out of Utah, to implement a Reading Education Assistance Dog (R.E.A.D.®) program right here in the west valley. We are proud to be an affiliate of Intermountain Therapy Animals serving 23 countries with over 5,000 volunteers. We started with one school, Barbara B. Robey Elementary, in Litchfield Park in 2017 and have now expanded the program to Litchfield Elementary, Odyssey Preparatory Academy in Buckeye, and Littleton School in Avondale.

How does R.E.A.D.® work?

Each week a R.E.A.D.® team goes to the school and works with the same child for quality one-on-one reading time. The child, who may be struggling with reading for any number of reasons, reads aloud to the dog (and the human) without fear or judgment. The benefits of pairing up a team with the same child every week for individual reading time is astounding. Over a short time, the bond that develops between the child and the dog is unmistakable! And, since dogs don’t judge, the children gain confidence as their reading skills improve.

How do we know it works?

We work hand in hand with teachers in each school. After each reading session, we debrief with the teacher and discuss how the child did and whether or not they are ready for more. Reading fluency is measured before and after each semester. The teachers are amazed at how much these children improve over a school year! On average, each student improves their fluency and comprehension scores by at least 50 percent.

Steps to Become a R.E.A.D. Team

Join Mutts On A Mission. You must become a registered therapy team by completing our one day workshop and evaluation that we offer throughout the year. This will give you insurance during a visit along with some of the training you will need.
Complete the R.E.A.D.® Workshop that is sponsored and led by the professionals of Intermountain Therapy Animals. You will be asked to complete an application, policies and procedures, and a 35 question written test. If you are interested in joining this program, contact us and we can help you!

Fox 10 profiled our R.E.A.D.® program.

For more information on Mutt’s R.E.A.D.® Program, enjoy the following video.

Filmed at the Barbara B. Robey School with heartfelt thanks for their support in filming this transformational work we call R.E.A.D. Our videographer was Joseph Mullane, a film school graduate of Grand Canyon University, who spent tireless hours perfecting our story. Please enjoy this documentary showing how our dogs help children.