Our Dog Ears Reading Program has evolved since it first began years ago, and we are incredibly proud of how it has grown — and of the impact it continues to have on both our dogs and our young readers.
Reading out loud can be incredibly stressful for children. Many of us remember being in school, hearing a classmate mispronounce a word, and the laughter that followed. Moments like that can be very traumatic for a child.
Dog Ears creates a very different environment.
Children sit on blankets in front of kennels, reading aloud to a dog while other young readers do the same around them. No one cares if a word is mispronounced. No one minds a stutter. Parents are not in the kennels — it’s typically just 10 to 15 children and two volunteers. The pressure is minimal, and the comfort level is high.
At first, the dogs often bark with excitement when the reading begins, which can annoy the readers who are deeply focused on their books. Other children can’t concentrate at all — they’re simply mesmerized by the adorable dog in front of them (and we don’t mind that either!).
But then the magic happens.
As the reading continues, the dogs begin to relax. Many of them curl up and fall asleep, soothed by the one-on-one attention and the sound of children’s voices. It’s calming, comforting, and truly special to witness.
One group this past fall surprised us in the sweetest way. A young girl began crying because she was so worried about the dog she was reading to. She had fallen in love instantly and was overwhelmed with concern for his future. Moments like that remind us just how powerful this program is.
Is Dog Ears educational? Absolutely. It strengthens reading skills — but it also teaches compassion. These children are often reading to dogs the same size as they are, or even larger. They look into the eyes of a homeless dog and begin to wonder, why?
After reading time (we limit it to about 20 minutes — that’s about the attention span for most!), we move onto a hands-on educational session. We introduce dogs with different backgrounds: some who were neglected, some who have overcome obstacles, and others who are simply wonderful family pets.
Through Dog Ears, children learn not to judge a book by its cover — and not to judge a dog that way either. They discover just how amazing shelter pets can be. It often leads to an important question: Why buy a puppy when you can give one of these dogs a home?
At our last reading session, one little girl wanted the dog she was reading to so badly that her mom came in to meet him. Dad didn’t stand a chance. That sweet dog found his family.
We love our readers, and they love the shelter. This is how we teach children about volunteering, compassion, and making the world a better place. Maybe one will help solve the pet overpopulation problem. Maybe one will become an animal advocate. Maybe one will simply grow up to be a little kinder when they see an animal in need.
Our next Dog Ears Reading session on February 7th is already fully booked. If you are interested in reserving a spot for your young reader (ages 5–12), please email us at info@fotasaiken.org.
Their lives are in our hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator