Emory with Bryant Elementary student

BARK is a volunteer program that encourages children  to increase their reading skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs.  Students find it intimidating to read in front of classmates, but love to read to their non-judgmental furry friends.  Teachers and principals find children in reading dog programs have greater self-esteem, better reading skills, and higher test scores.

Stephanie and Amiko

 If you have a well-behaved dog and one hour per week, come join us!

Eric and Groucho

Students read to dogs 15-20 minutes once per week for six weeks.  They are given a bookmark with photos and information about the dog they are reading with.  Pictures are taken and given to the child on a subsequent visit.  At the end of the six weeks, the student picks one of our books to take home and the dog "pawtographs" the book.

  All BARK dogs are evaluated, certified, and insured by Therapy Dogs International.