The mission of the R.E.A.D.® program is to improve the literacy skills of children through
the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D.® dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.
Today, hundreds of registered R.E.A.D.® teams work throughout the United States and Canada. R.E.A.D.® is one of those ideas that, in the words of Bill Moyers, “pierces the mundane to arrive at the marvelous.”
Intermountain Therapy Animals, a nonprofit organization, launched R.E.A.D.® in 1999 as the first comprehensive literacy program built around the appealing idea of reading to dogs, and the program has been spreading rapidly and happily ever since!
Other R.E.A.D.® News and Information
The R.E.A.D.® Brochure
Download the R.E.A.D.® brochure here (Adobe Acrobat, 117 KB)
The R.E.A.D.® Training Package
Libraries and Schools that ITA R.E.A.D. ® Teams Visit
Below are the schools and libraries where ITA's own R.E.A.D. programs are currently taking place. To look for a program in your area, please review our Associate Programs.
UTAH
- Benchmark Hospital: Woods Cross
- Bennion Elementary School: Salt Lake City
- Christ Centered School, Mt. Pleasant
- Utah Clearfield, School, Elementary
- Columbia Elementary School, West Jordan
- H. Guy Child Elementary, Ogden
- Holt Elementary School, Clearfield
- Jeremy Ranch Elementary, Park City
- Lakeview School, Brigham City
- Longview Elementary School: Murray
- McPolin Elementary School: Park City
- Midvale Boys & Girls Club: Midvale
- Mountain Ridge Junior High, Highland
- North Logan City Library, Logan
- Odyssey House, Salt Lake City
- Orem Junior High School, Orem
- Park City Library, Park City
- Parley's Park Elementary, Park City
- Provo City Library, Provo
- Salt Lake City Public Library, Chapman Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Columbus Branch
- Salt Lake City Public Library, Day/Riverside Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Draper Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, East Millcreek Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Holladay Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Hunter Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Kearns Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Magna Branch
- Salt Lake City Public Library, Main Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Park Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Riverton Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Sandy Branch
- Salt Lake City Public Library, Sweet Branch
- Salt Lake City Public Library, Anderson Foothill Branch
- Salt Lake City Public Library, Sprague Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Tyler (Midvale) Branch
- Salt Lake County Library, Whitmore Branch
- Sandy Elementary School, Sandy
- Trailside Elementary School, Heber
- Weber County Library, Ogden
- Summit County Library, Park City
IDAHO
- Buhl public schools: Twin Falls
- Hansen Public Library: Twin Falls
- Southern Idaho Learning Center: Twin Falls
- Twin Falls Public Library: Twin Falls
MONTANA
- Bozeman Public Library: Bozeman
- Divide Elementary: Butte
- Emily Dickinson Elementary School: Bozeman
- Hawthorne Elementary School: Bozeman
- Melrose Elementary School: Melrose
- Spring Meadows Assisted Living: Bozeman
- Willow Creek School: Willow Creek
NEVADA
- Washoe County Public Library: Incline Village
Created: April 1, 2005 by Intermountain Therapy Animals
Other R.E.A.D.® press and articles
- Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D. ® ) Frequently Asked Questions
- "Tails for Tea"
- R.E.A.D.® Training Package a Success!
- R.E.A.D.® Program - 'Tails From The Field'
- READING IS FUN-DOG-MENTAL
- R.E.A.D.® Presentations
- R.E.A.D.® Featured on Westminster Dog Show Broadcast
- R.E.A.D.® Associate Programs and Regional Workshops
- ITA Wins Major Award
- Purchase a Lucinda pin and support the R.E.A.D.® program!
Press and Articles
A page of references to recent press and articles about Reading Education Assistance Dogs.
Links
Links to other Reading Education Assistance Dogs and literacy resources on the Internet.
R.E.A.D.® Photos
Photos of Reading Education Assistance Dogs at work.
R.E.A.D.® Program Contacts:
For more information about R.E.A.D.®, please contact Intermountain Therapy Animals at 801-272-3439