A nice book, a good dog and a passion for learning – what else does a kid need? Beach Animals Reading with Kids (BARK), a nonprofit that utilizes therapy dogs to improve reading skills and encourage self-confidence in young students, recently received a $20,000 grant from Big Heart Pet Brands to assist in expanding their presence.

(photo courtesy of Beach Animals Reading with Kids)

BARK was founded in 2007 at Bryant Elementary School in Long Beach under the direction of Josie Gavieres. Having experience in training guide dogs for the blind and a desire to be a 1st grade teacher, she combined her two interests to create BARK. In response to an increasing demand from community members, the program has expanded into several areas in Los Angeles and as far north as Sacramento. BARK, an all-volunteer program, is in more than 100 schools and libraries, including the John C. Fremont Library on Melrose Avenue and the Fairfax Library on South Gardner Street. Currently 170 listening dogs, ranging from chihuahuas to labrador retrievers to rottweilers, and their handlers volunteer at BARK.

The dogs must have their Canine Good Citizen certification, know basic obedience and have a good temperament. The dogs must also go through a 15-point evaluation with BARK, inclusive of tests emulating situations that may occur when dogs encounter large groups of children.

Once a month, numerous libraries in California are visited by up to five dogs that will sit patiently and receptively while a dozen children, from toddlers to teenagers, take turns interacting with them. The organization recently launched a new program in participating libraries that will award a new book to readers who attend two sessions in a row. Gavieres said some children and their families have come every month for two years, and some attend multiple times a month by following the program around the city to different libraries.

“We just love the BARK program – if children come here and are nervous about reading, they find that there is no anxiety when reading to a dog, where with parents they might feel anxious,” said Beth Feinberg, manager at the John C. Fremont Library. “Plus, not a lot of kids have pets at home, and this gives them a chance to play and be more comfortable with dogs.”

The BARK program varies slightly in a school setting, in that only four 1st through 3rd grade students are selected to read to the dogs once a week for a period of eight weeks, then new students are rotated into the program. Gavieres said teachers typically recommend “shy readers”, who need reading practice without other students watching them. While none of the students in the BARK program have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, some occasionally have behavioral issues and are far behind in their reading skills.

“It changes the experience of reading for them. It goes from them saying, ‘I have to go read because I need help,’ to ‘I get to go read and be with a dog’,” Gavieres said.

Before and after each eight-week session, teachers are asked to evaluate the participating students’ reading skills, class participation and self-confidence. By the end of the BARK program, 82 percent of the students show an increase across the board immediately, and oftentimes continue to improve after the program’s completion.

“We’ve seen kids that are unbelievably shy, then they read with the dog and gain confidence in themselves and their reading. Then we will ask if they want to introduce the dog to their classmates, and they get excited because it’s something that only they can talk about,” Gavieres said. “And here is this once-shy child standing in front of the class, excited to talk about something that they know about and no one else does. That’s special.”

Samira Mahjoub brings her husky, Chili, to the John C. Fremont Library and 6th Avenue School regularly with the BARK program. While all students, teachers and staff light up when they see Chili coming, it is the work BARK does with foster children that inspires her the most.

“The children that we work with who come from foster homes may not see affection on a daily basis, or may not know how to give affection. Chili is very friendly and nonjudgmental, so after spending some time together, I’ve heard them say, ‘I love you, Chili,’ while showing him affection. It is incredibly rewarding,” Mahjoub said.

Receiving the Heart to Paw grant came as a bit of a surprise to Gavieres, just as the nomination did one year ago. A member of the Big Hearts Pet Brands brought her daughter to one of the BARK events, and was so impressed she asked to submit an application for the Paws for a Cause grant on their behalf.

“We are so grateful for this, and are going to use it to grow the organization. I am looking for ways that we can use the money most efficiently, like growing our new program that awards readers with their own books,” Gavieres said. “Books are our main expense, we have given away about 20,000 in five years, mainly to children from low-income families.”

While Gavieres intends to expand the program in the community, she looks forward to keeping it a completely volunteer-based organization.

“We have the most amazing volunteers. Some are retired teachers, some are moms who want to help kids read – and all of the volunteers understand the value of knowing how to read and want to make sure every child has that opportunity,” she said.

Steve Silverman, a retired teacher, and Sydney, his Australian labradoodle, visit the John C. Fremont Library each month to work with students on their reading.

“Sydney delights in sitting with the readers, the readers delight in reading and petting at the same time, and this retired teacher beams in doing something worthwhile, knowing I still contribute to the reading growth of kids,” Silverman said.