Literacy Charities Serving All of Australia

Story Dogs is a reading support program designed to improve the literacy skills of children using dogs! Woof!

Children with reading difficulties get to practise their reading skills in a non-classroom environment with accredited dogs. The program is proven to improve reading skills, increase focus and comprehension and build confidence. Story Dogs is a non-profit organisation. The program is free of charge for children and one-on-one reading sessions are delivered entirely by volunteers.

At Story Dogs, we believe that volunteering should be cost-neutral. We feel that volunteers give so much of their time that it should not cost them any money to be involved. As such, all costs are covered by dog sponsorships, fundraising and donations. It costs approximately $500 per year to put a Dog Team into a primary school. As Story Dogs is a non-profit organisation, all monies raised go directly to putting more dogs into schools to help more children become life-long readers.

Elsie was having a cup of coffee in a local café. There was a group of women having coffee at another table. One of them spotted Elsie and came to talk to her. 

“Excuse me,” the woman said, “you did Story Dogs at our local public school, didn’t you?”

After Elsie replied that she had, the woman continued. 

“Well, I want to thank you. My granddaughter did Story Dogs with you and she went from never picking up a book to always having a book in her hand. She is always reading now! Thank you so much!”

Elsie was over the moon knowing that she had provided a positive influence in this child’s life. She remembered the little girl. She was dyslexic and was having a hard time in school. But reading with Elsie and her dog, Dash, made all the difference. 

Story Dogs had worked its magic again! Woof Woof!