WHITES IGA at Mooloolah has backed a program which helps kids develop their reading skills with four-legged friends.

The store has sponsored one of the canines, Cassidy, who with owner, Di Whiston, is part of  the Story Dog program.

Maree Keating, coordinator of the program in the Caloundra and Kawana areas, said Story Dogs visited schools with their owners and listened to children read.

“My dog and I read at Currimundi State School. We’re there for about two hours. We have about 20 students at each school.

“The process is that they read the books to the dogs.”

Maree said the Story Dogs program was established to help students improve their literacy skills and boost their confidence but not all were struggling with learning.

“I read with one little boy who had lost his mum,” she said.

She said the students looked forward to the sessions and so did the dogs, who eagerly anticipated a pat once the reading was over.

“I’ve had kids say, ‘We’ve been waiting for this all week’,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful program. It’s been going since about 2009. It was established in New South Wales by two ladies and there were about four dogs. Now we’ve got about 600.”

Although the program has grown, Maree said more Story Dog teams were needed to meet demand.

“Beerwah would like a volunteer, Glenview would like another, and Glasshouse Mountains,” she said.

Maree said prospective Story Dogs needed to be good with kids while their accompanying volunteers needed to pass the usual working with children and other checks.

She said sponsors were also always appreciated. Annual sponsorship of $550 covered the cost of special vets, insurance, and more.

“The nice part is that you’re helping kids to read and it’s a nice, social thing.”

• For information, go to www.storydogs.org.au.