TOMMY the Story Dog is helping improve literacy at his local primary school.
The seven-year-old blind border collie is always welcome in the Year Two classroom at Ashfield Primary School in Perth, where children with behavioural or learning difficulties can practise reading aloud to him.
The Story Dogs program brings trained pooches into schools to help children with their reading and learning.
Tommy's owner Mary O'Donovan said the children love it.
"They would all love to read to a Story Dog," she said.
"The children feel calm after patting him and settle down to read.
"Because he is such a good listener, they feel comfortable with him. He's been known to fall asleep while he's being read to.
"Sometimes children even show him the pictures and he's too polite to tell them he can't see them!"
Mary said because Tommy is a non-judgmental audience, the children don't feel threatened or anxious if they can't work out a word.
"I can see improvements over the weeks in children's ability to settle down, sit still and read."
And Tommy relishes his reading role. "When I put on his Story Dog vest he knows it is time to go to school and he enjoys all the pats and attention."
Tommy is also a favourite with the seniors he visits every week at an aged care facility.
"Being a therapy dog is just Tommy's thing," Mary said. "Even in our local dog park, if he senses someone is unhappy, he will go up and lean against them."
The program has been running in WA since 2015, mainly in Perth's southern suburbs, and there is a big demand for it to go to more schools throughout the metropolitan area.
"You will always be sent to a school in your local area or one that you have links with, such as having grandkids go there," Mary said.
Co-ordinator Amanda Milroy said Story Dogs is keen to hear from people with calm and friendly dogs who would like to volunteer.
"We'd also love to hear from schools interested in joining the program and from sponsors who would be interested in supporting us," she said.
