Furry friends help Fishers students with reading skills - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Education has gone to the dogs for some children in Fishers, where some four-legged friends are helping them read.

Second grader Colby Diamond finds it easier to read out loud, thanks to his newest furry friend.

"It makes me feel, like, really comfortable and I like him," Diamond said.

The program is called "Paws to Read," where it's just a child, a book, a dog and a dog handler at Fishers Elementary School.

"The benefits, I knew just having dogs myself made me feel less anxious, lowered my blood pressure, lowered my heart rate and how perfect that would be to pair a dog with some students who may have some struggles reading," said Principal Patty Mansfield.

Gracie, a three-year-old golden retriever, and Casey, a four-year-old Labradoodle, are the dogs helping students with their reading.

"Well if I sometimes pause, she'll, like, look at me and ask, 'Are you gonna keep reading or not?'," said third grader Anna Schnefke. "I'll, like, start reading to her, it's like she's really listening to you."

Recent research has found that children become better readers when they regularly read aloud to dogs.

The program is coordinated through the Indianapolis organization called Paws & Think, Inc., which matches students up with trained canines and their volunteer owners.

"It's really rewarding for us to see her and the kids interact with each other and see the kids read and the effect they have on the kids," said Paws to Read volunteer Bill Feltz.

Educators say at the end of the year, they can see improvement in a child's reading comprehension, confidence and comfort level in public speaking.