Children read to animals

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - More than 20 kids grabbed a book and sat down next to a dog to share their story.

The dogs there were part of Caring Paws, a non-profit organization in Lafayette that provides animal assisted therapy to many people throughout the area.

"We are giving the kids an opportunity to read to the dogs. Dogs don't judge their reading ability, so it's a very non-threatening way to get kids to read aloud," said Michelle Mullen.

Many of the children we spoke with say reading to a dog is fun and educational at the same time.

"I think it makes us read better with reading out loud," said Rosalie Stanley.

"When you read you know they are listening, and when they are listening it makes you feel better," said Haley Breece.

"The more I practice, the more I get better," said Mary Grandall.

Parents agree.  Kaitee Tyson from Chalmers says her family recently moved here from Alabama.  She says the curriculum is a little harder up here, so she thought this was a great way to help her kids out.

"Kids are having a little trouble keeping up with the reading part, so we thought this would be a good opporunity for them to read to something that's more patient then maybe an adult, " said Kaitee Tyson.

Dogs weren't the only animals kids enjoyed reading to.  There is also one cat in Caring Paws named Figaro.

"Figaro really likes it, because he's pretty calm. He sits there and kids come and read to them and he gets a lot of treats, and pettings and gives a lot of high fives," said Anya Savikhin.

If Figaro's high fives and the dogs' wagging tails are anything to go by, the animals enjoyed being read to as much as the children enjoyed reading to them.