Image Credit: School District 73

By Ashley Legassic

PAWS 4 READING

Marion Schilling students get reading help from furry friends

Feb 19, 2020 | 2:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — A new initiative at Marion Schilling Elementary is aiming to help some students with their reading skills.

According to School District 73, the Paws 4 Reading program is part of the therapy dog program offered through St. John Ambulance. A volunteer and a dog visit a school, and the dog and student sit together to read.

WATCH: Paws 4 Reading Program at Marion Schilling Elementary

“It is a wonderful way to motivate students,” said Trudie BonBernard, therapy dog coordinator with St. John Ambulance. “Research shows that when children interact with a dog, their stress and anxiety is reduced, and their feelings of wellness and their feelings of positivity towards school is increased. That carries over to their reading.”

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

7h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024

BonBernard has a 12-year-old Australian Labradoodle named Skye; he’s been a therapy dog for eight years who has worked in several hospital departments. He’s also a family court dog and a former TRU therapy dog.

BonBernard has been working with Marion Schilling and its PAC chair to bring a therapy dog to the school once a week to work with students Grades 4 through 7.

She’s hoping to hear from other schools interested in the program.

“There are 70 therapy dogs in the Kamloops area, and 24 of these are child-certified, which means they can work in schools in the district,” said BonBernard. “They range in size from tiny, about four pounds, to 150 pounds. There are the kinds of dogs you would expect, like Labradors who are certainly great for the job, but we also have Blue Heelers, Aussie Shepherds, purebred dogs and rescue dogs.”