Can children-improve their reading skills'by reading to dogs? Researchers at the University of California reported that the answer is yes. Taivion Scott began-learning to read last year at Stanton Elementary School in Washington. He struggled with new , but he said it worked when a dog was sitting next to him. Izzy, a tovely dog, has been coming to the school for a year with Denise Velasquez ; a volunteer m PAL. PAL is People Animals Love, a public groqp in Washington that brings dogs into schools and libraries. Denise Velasquez says, i think you feel a little less self-conscious whenyou’re reading to a dog, instead of feeling like you're reading to your classmates or your teacher. I helped Taivion with his reading.. I pulled Izzy in a little bit, too, so he could feel a little bit closer to Izzy and less Stressful Eric Reithel frona the PAL prograrome says he can understand the children because he had problems with reading when he was young. He says,"They feel more confident when reading to à dog, because a dog isn't going to tell them that's the wrong word." Reading to dogs has helped Ann Hill develop her reading skills. At first, Ann's big dog, Daisy, made some of the children feel uncomfortable. But the childrerl learned that Daisy was gentle, and she became one of their favourites. Ann says, "1 love to read to dogs. They're nice and quiet. The kids are very enthustastic and I think reading to dogs encourages them to try. Demaris Hami Iton, a teacher, says,"The environment in many homes can make it hard for children to learn. Some kids aren't getting love or attention at home, so when they come to PAL they get a lot of love and attention. That all plays a big part.