DOGS TELL A REAL STORY
A HEART-WARMING innovation that helps children increase their confidence and competence with reading has launched in Townsville.
Story Dogs, which was founded more than 10 years ago in NSW, has arrived at Riverside Adventist School in Aitkenvale.
A program volunteer takes their beloved canine to school so children who struggle with reading can simply read to the dog away from class, without judgment or pressure.
Wendy Gardam has signed up for Story Dogs with her chocolate labrador Gabby.
“They’d just started in Townsville and I was approached to join,” Mrs Gardam said. “I was very impressed with the set-up. It’s excellent, I just place Gabby beside the child and it’s very non-judgmental.”
Mrs Gardam said Gabby, 7, was the perfect listening ear for students.
“She just lies there for two hours, it’s her favourite position, lying. So it works quite well for her.
“I bought Gabby when she was three and the breeder said she would be perfect for what I wanted to do.
“She hasn’t got a nasty bone in her body, she’s beautiful. You see the excited labradors, but she’s calm natured. She’s quite special.”
Mrs Gardam, 74, has done two sessions at Riverside Adventist so far and said she has five children with whom she works.