Growth and Programs

From February 2012 to April 2013, Woofs and Books has grown FROM 1 volunteer and her canine reading buddy providing free reading sessions at 1 school TO 7 volunteers and their 9 canine reading buddies providing free reading sessions at 5 schools.  This is amazing growth and Woofs and Books is so grateful to its dedicated volunteers and their canine reading buddies!

Nickie Scott and Bentley, Great Pyrenees, kicked off the entire reading program at St. Michael’s Elementary School in Greenfield, IN.  Another volunteer started the reading program in Noblesville, IN at Noble Crossing Elementary School.  Currently, Woofs and Books works with students at St. Michael’s, New Palestine Elementary School, Paramount School of Excellence in Indianapolis, and Noble Crossing and Promise Road Elementary School in Noblesville. In addition to schools, Nickie Scott and Bentley offer the reading program to pre-K children attending programs at the Greenfield Parks Dept., MOPS, and have Story Time with Bentley at The Nutty Mutt, a pet store and bakery in Greenfield and New Palestine, IN. The volunteers are also trying to offer the reading programs at 2 libraries.

If you are unfamiliar with the reading program, volunteers and their temperament tested and/or canine good citizen certified dogs facilitate reading sessions between elementary students and their new furry, canine friend.

Students who are shy, lack self-confidence, or struggle with literacy are selected to participate in the reading sessions. The students read aloud to the non-critical, attentive, canine reading buddy. The volunteer facilitates the sessions.  Due to the dog being non-critical, the students are relaxed and are not afraid to make mistakes while reading aloud.  After 8+ weeks of reading to the dogs, the students increase their literacy skills, build self-confidence, and improve their grades.

In addition to the benefits noted, the students typically read animal-themed books and the volunteers talk about responsible pet ownership and adopting and rescuing pets. The dogs also benefit from the reading programs by becoming well socialized with different people and new environments.  Woofs and Books’ goal is to train the dogs it rescues to become canine reading buddies, and the rescue dogs will also be available for adoption.

Woofs and Books is also an animal rescue and has rescued and adopted out 21+ pets, primarily cats, since April 2011.  Woofs and Books screens its potential adopters via an application and reference checks. Adopters also have to sign an adoption contract. The rescues are all in loving homes and are quite spoiled!

All of the volunteers and board of directors are unpaid and offer the reading programs for free at schools and other locations. Thus, Woofs and Books relies on fundraisers, grants, and supplies and monetary donations to continue the reading and adoption programs. Thank you to our volunteers and for your support!!

Gaining Momentum and Deja Vu

Woofs and Books' volunteers and Harry, an 8-month old, cream Labrador Retriever, are helping tutor 3rd graders at Noble Crossing Elementary School in Noblesville, IN.  The kids enjoy reading to Harry and are always excited to see their wonderful reading buddy!  Woofs and Books hopes to continue offering reading sessions at Noble Crossing in the upcoming school year.

Bentley, our inaugural reading buddy, has been invited to attend graduation with his Pre-K class.  He is busy shopping for a bow tie.  The teacher and parents have definitely noticed improvement with the children, such as increased enthusiasm about reading, improved verbal communication, and overcoming fears of dogs. Of course, no one can be scared of fluffy and docile Bentley Charles!  Bentley has been invited back in the fall to help 2nd grade students with their reading.

It was deja vu last weekend when Woofs and Books offered to shelter and find homes for 7 kittens and their Mama.  No Paws Left Behind, a wonderful organization, contacts rescues and shelters when animals are left behind in foreclosed homes.  Yes, people abandon their pets in their foreclosed homes. IF the animals are found alive, No Paws Left Behind will cover medical expenses so long as a rescue provides care, shelter, love,..and finds forever homes for the abandoned pets. No Paws Left Behind will also help people facing foreclosure find safe havens for their pets.

Last summer, volunteers caring for "the original" Mama Kitty and her 7 kittens were very stressed on how to care for one-week old kittens and Mama. What do we feed them? What do we do? When does Mama get vaccinated? Is Mama supposed to have that much gas? The kittens are not drinking from the bottle! The fat kittens are pushing the little one out of the way! Does Mama know she is sitting on one of her kits? Boy, that is a lot of poop!

This summer, the volunteers are pros. Yeah, yeah, give Mama kitten food.  Yup, that's a lot of poop,...  Soon, the two-week-old kittens will be more mobile and the fun will begin. Oh, and the litter box training. But, the fun!  The kittens and cats we adopt out are very spoiled, sassy, and happy.

Drainage improvements are going to be started next week with the help of a mini excavator and free labor in the form of Girl Scouts!  The Girl Scouts will also learn about and plant a rain garden and a vegetable/pumpkin patch. We hope to grow the Great Pumpkin and sell the pumpkins as a fundraiser in the fall. If we can't sell all the pumpkins, maybe we will have a Pumpkin Throwing Contest in which people construct catapults/sling shots. Yup, that is what we do down here in Indiana. 

Woofs and Books also has new volunteers and an intern! The intern has to put in 300 hours for her internship. Bhahahahaha. Okay, okay...we will be nice to her. Seriously, Woofs and Books is gaining momentum with help from great volunteers, dogs, Girl Scout troops, and an official intern. The organization has also received grant money, which is greatly appreciated, and capital improvements can begin. What do we say? WOOF WOOF!