Get Help Reading From Furry Friends

Remember being called on in school to read out loud to the class? For kids who aren’t strong readers, an event as simple and unavoidable as that can give them nightmares.

Barks and Books want to eliminate that moment from student’s lives by turning nervous readers into confident ones, and they want to do it with the help of you and your dog.

Part of the Pasadena Humane Society’s outreach programs, Barks and Books is a program created for children aged 5-12 that makes reading fun and aims to boost their confidence, and at the same time, promote respect and humane treatment for all animals.

Children’s confidence is boosted, as they are encouraged to read out loud not to their peers who might judge them, but to happy and friendly dogs brought in by their owners.

Barks and Books use volunteers with their own dogs to visit local schools and libraries. They ask that all dogs have a Canine Good Citizenship Certificate before participating. Volunteers must also commit to visiting at least one site every month.

If you think your child would benefit or you and your pup would like to help out, the program is being run at the following venues:

Arcadia Public Library
(626) 821-5570

Glendale Public Library, Montrose-Crescenta Branch
(818) 548-2048

Glendale Public Library, Pacific Park Branch
(818) 548-3760

Monrovia Public Library
(626) 256-8274

Pasadena Public Library, Hastings Ranch Branch
(626) 744-7263

Pasadena Public Library, La Pintoresca Branch
(626) 744-7268

San Marino Public Library
(626) 300-0776

Sierra Madre Public Library
(626) 355-7186

South Pasadena Public Library
(626) 403-7330

The next event is on Thursday, August 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., so be sure to visit their website for more details if you are interested in volunteering or attending.

To inquire about volunteering, you can contact Adrian Griffin at agrffin@pasadenahumane.org.

Pasadena Humane Society is located at 361 S Raymond Avenue Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 792-7151 or visit www.pasadenahumane.org.