Angel Paws

After expressing interest in performing therapy visits with our dogs, Angel Paws was formed early in 2007. Members of Angel Paws are therapy teams registered through Therapy Dogs Incorporated.

Therapy Dogs Incorporated Mission Statement (January 1, 2008 Member Handbook) – www.therapydogs.com:

“The goal of TDI is to provide registration, support and insurance for members who are involved in volunteer animal assisted activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, visits to hospitals, special needs centers, schools, and nursing homes. Our objective is to form a network of caring individuals who are willing to share their special animals in order to bring happiness and cheer to people, young and old alike.”

Every Angel Paws therapy team receives training, must provide health clearances for their dogs, complete three supervised visits with an approved Tester/Observer, and agrees to comply with the rules and regulations of Angel Paws and Therapy Dogs Incorporated.

Currently, Angel Paws has regularly scheduled visits at two local nursing centers and has fourteen registered therapy teams.


R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs)

In addition to being registered therapy dogs, Angel Paws currently has eight registered R.E.A.D. teams.

From the Intermountain Therapy Animals R.E.A.D. web page – http://www.therapyanimals.org/read/:

“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 owners/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.”

Angel Paws has a R.E.A.D. program in place at Grove Lower Elementary School, providing bi-monthly one-on-one sessions with approximately forty first graders. As additional R.E.A.D. teams are added, more children will be added to the sessions. These sessions allow at-risk children to read aloud to a non-judgmental listener (our dogs!). Statistics have proven that these sessions can help children relax while reading, build self-confidence and encourage a love of reading.