logo: Therapaws of Michigan: Sharing the Human-Animal Bondlogo: Therapaws of Michigan: Sharing the Human-Animal Bond
Celebrating 20 Years: 1988 - 2008

About Therapaws to R.E.A.D.


Therapaws of Michigan photo

In 2004, Therapaws partnered with R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs), a program launched in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in a public library in Utah.

The mission of the R.E.A.D. program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered pet therapy teams as literacy mentors.

The R.E.A.D. program improves children's reading and communication skills by making dogs available for children to read aloud to. It was found that the level of reading-aloud confidence scored high in testing individual children involved in this program.

Now, dogs are being used for boosting reading confidence in schools as well. (Learn more about ITA's R.E.A.D. program by visiting www.therapyanimals.org).

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Request Our Therapaws to R.E.A.D. Visits


Therapaws of Michigan photo

If you believe the Therpaws to R.E.A.D. program can make a difference to your children, then Therapaws of Michigan, Inc. (Therapaws) can help you meet these needs.

  1. Please print out this form (532 KB PDF file), fill in all the information, and mail it to:
    Therapaws of Michigan, Inc.
    P.O. Box 92
    Dexter, MI 48130
  2. A Therapaws member will contact you and discuss your needs and Therapaws' procedures.

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Facilities Visited by Therapaws to R.E.A.D.


Therapaws of Michigan photo

Today, several Therapaws members also are registered as R.E.A.D. teams and visit facilities in Belleville, Chelsea, Dexter, and Ypsilanti. Therapaws is looking to expand the R.E.A.D. program into Ann Arbor and other communities.

Therapaws to R.E.A.D. Facilities

Belleville (Fred C. Fischer) Library
167 Fourth Street
Belleville, MI 48111

Chelsea District Library
500 Washington Street
Chelsea, MI 48118

Cornerstone Elementary School
7840 Dan Hoey Road
Dexter, MI 48130

Ypsilanti District Library
229 West Michigan Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

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