This summer, children across Okaloosa and Walton counties have a new way to build reading confidence — with the help of some four-legged friends. Dog-Harmony’s animal-assisted literacy program, Paws and Pages, is now offering monthly reading sessions at four public libraries, including the Niceville Public Library. Additional participating locations include libraries in Freeport, Fort Walton Beach and Crestview.
The program pairs children with registered therapy dog teams trained through READing Paws, an affiliate of R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dogs®), the nation’s first comprehensive animal-assisted literacy program. Sessions are open to children of all reading levels and are designed to create a calm, encouraging environment where young readers can thrive.
“Paws and Pages is about more than just books — it’s about the connection between the child and the dog that opens the door to a lifelong love of reading,” said Nancy Brown, founder of Dog-Harmony. “We see children who were once hesitant to read aloud suddenly blossom when they have a dog by their side.”
Research shows four key elements help encourage children to read: a sense of self-efficacy, motivation, viewing reading as a social activity and having a calm environment. Therapy dogs naturally help create that atmosphere. Their nonjudgmental presence can reduce stress and anxiety while encouraging children to read aloud with greater confidence and joy.
One Okaloosa County teacher shared that her student’s participation in Dog-Harmony’s READing Paws program improved both his confidence and reading abilities. “His state testing score went up a level, and I believe reading with a dog helped him achieve this goal!” she said. “The help they gave him in building a good reading foundation and raising his reading confidence will be with him throughout his education!”
Families are invited to register for individual reading time slots directly through the participating libraries. Current schedules include:
Niceville Public Library: Every first Saturday morning
Freeport Public Library: Every first and third Wednesday afternoon
Crestview Public Library: Every second Saturday morning
Fort Walton Beach Library: Every third Saturday morning
Dog-Harmony also plans to introduce Paws and Pages programs at Walton-DeFuniak Library and Coastal Branch Library by the fall.
Founded in 2015 by certified professional dog trainer Nancy Brown, CPDT-KA, Dog-Harmony is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to strengthening the bond between dogs and humans through education and community outreach. The organization’s mission is simple: helping dogs rescue people. Its programs include therapy dog team support services, youth education and well-being initiatives, Keeping Dogs in Homes and pet bereavement counseling. These efforts are made possible through grants, donations and dedicated volunteers.
READing Paws, also a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is an affiliate of R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dogs®), a program launched in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals® in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, READing Paws teams serve schools, libraries and community programs across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Tennessee. All therapy animal-handler teams undergo national criminal background checks and meet strict health, safety and temperament standards.
For more information about Dog-Harmony and participating libraries, visit Dog-Harmony or READing Paws Program Information.
