B.A.R.K.S ©™ (Bonding Animals, Reading, Kids, & Safety) is a fun & inspiring, all inclusive dog-based, literacy curriculum for children and adults of all skill levels. B.A.R.K.S. is designed to be several steps beyond most dog reading programs.  Our teams are trained, tested, licensed, & insured. Children beg to be in B.A.R.K.S. because dogs make reading fun & easy.  Administrators request and praise our well-trained certified fur-therapy literacy teams.  Helping P.A.W.S International is …an all volunteer non-profit that provides trained, certified/licensed, & insured animal/owner teams to healthcare, education, & community programs.

B.A.R.K.S. is provided free of charge to libraries, education & child support facilities

Helping Paws Fur-therapy© teams visit healthcare & other programs free of charge

Helping Paws & B.A.R.K.S Fur-therapy teams must be certified/licensed therapy dogs/animals.

Helping Paws is …a national & international therapy & assistance dog/animal training & certifying organization. Helping Paws also accepts therapy animal teams certified by other national organizations (see below)

Why B.A.R.K.S.?  According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress report - In NC “29% of fourth graders cannot read at the most basic level”.   http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

B.A.R.K.S  (Bonding Animals, Reading, Kids, & Safety) ©™,  the 2nd oldest dog reading program in the country, is an original dog & animal-assisted reading program developed by Helping P.A.W.S. International, one of the most requested service and therapy dog training & certifying organizations.

Children beg to be in B.A.R.K.S. because they get to play with gentle, loving animals who take the pressure out of reading.  The dogs/pets make wonderful Fur-kid Book Buddies©™ by providing a safe haven from peer pressure along with points of interest and curiosity. Children in our B.A.R.K.S. program usually increase their reading scores an average of 2 grade levels/year while improving in other courses and class interactions. B.A.R.K.S. teams work in schools, libraries, & other child support programs. (See About Page for more B.A.R.K.S.)

Helping Paws is …peace of mind for facility & program administrators.  In addition to providing trained, certified, & insured teams, we also conduct criminal background checks and make sure vet records & certifications are always current. …And, B.A.R.K.S. teams receive several weeks of training in addition to their therapy animal certification training.

Helping Paws & B.A.R.K.S. accepts therapy animal teams certified by other national organizations while allowing you to retain that certification.  Some conditions do apply & you must become a member of Helping Paws Intl for insurance purposes since your other organization will not cover you when working under a program title not designated by their organization. Been told you can use your homeowners insurance? Contact us about that one.  For more information B.A.R.K.S & Helping Paws or to request B.A.R.K.S./Helping Paws teams for your facility/program contact us at HelpingPaws@att.net or www.helpingpawsintl.org

Please do not post pictures under the Photo section.  If you have pictures you would like to post send them to Helping Paws (< 1000kb).  We will send you a photo/media release form and will post the picture(s) for you after you return the form. Contact: HelpingPaws@att.net

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Helping Paws B.A.R.K.S. Reading Assistance Dogs & Therapy Dogs

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Recent Meetups

  • Thursday at 8:00 AM, 2 Friends of HP & BARKS attended

    B.A.R.K.S. READING DOG SESSION
    B.A.R.K.S. Reading Dog Sessions occur throughout the month on various days in many locations. They are for Helping Paws/B.A.R.K.S certified teams only. The school/... Learn more

  • Wednesday at 8:00 AM, 3 Friends of HP & BARKS attended

    Helping Paws Hospice & HomeHealth Visits
    Helping Paws Hospice & HomeCare visits occur throughout the month on various days in many locations. Our Duke Univ. H & HC visits are within the following counties in... Learn more

  • February 21 at 8:00 AM, 4 Friends of HP & BARKS attended

    B.A.R.K.S. READING DOG SESSION
    B.A.R.K.S. Reading Dog Sessions occur throughout the month on various days in many locations. They are for Helping Paws/B.A.R.K.S certified teams only. The school/... Learn more

  • February 20 at 8:00 AM, 3 Friends of HP & BARKS attended

    B.A.R.K.S. Reading Dog Sessions
    B.A.R.K.S. Reading Dog Sessions occur throughout the month on various days in many locations. They are for Helping Paws/B.A.R.K.S certified teams only. The school/... Learn more

  • February 19 at 12:00 PM, 4 Friends of HP & BARKS attended

    Helping Paws Facility Visits
    THE DAY & TIME LISTED FOR THIS FACILITY VISIT IS NOT THE ACTUAL ONE. IT IS ONLY TELLING PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE FACILITY VISITS SCHEDULED DURING THIS WEEK. The facility... Learn more
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  • See all photos
  • New Member
    Libby Krupa Taylor Libby Krupa Taylor joined
    January 3 at 1:30 PM
    Libby Krupa Taylor
    "Hello my name is Libby and I am a mother of 3 young children, and a Registered Nurse here in Cary, NC. I have two spectacular dogs that I believe would be a wonderful edition to your program."
  • New Member
    bebe snyder bebe snyder joined
    December 20, 2011 at 12:46 PM
    bebe snyder
    "Hi! I've been involved with animals my whole life and have seen what an animal can bring to a child. I've most recently been working with a therapeutic riding program. Hope to meet you all soon!"
  • New Member
    Rebecca Rebecca joined
    December 20, 2011 at 12:45 PM
    Rebecca
    "I have cerebral palsy and I love dogs. I am looking someone to help me train a laptop service dog to pick up what I drop."
  • New File
    Isis Gray-Hound Isis Gray-Hound uploaded HP-MeetUp_2011_ DECEMBER_ Calendar.doc
    December 2, 2011 at 6:11 PM
    Isis Gray-Hound
    HP-MeetUp_2011_ DECEMBER_ Calendar.doc

    "2011_December Triangle-Triad, NC Dog Events Lots of Santa Paws Photo Events"
  • New Member
    robin robin joined
    November 1, 2011 at 1:14 PM
    robin
    "Hello, My dog, Alfie, and I are a certified pet therapy team with Delta Society. We are interested in helping with this program. We have visited assisted living facilities, libraries, and public schools in the past. I am a nurse and a nanny."
  • New Member
    Kacy Kacy joined
    November 1, 2011 at 1:13 PM
    Kacy
    "After teaching for 6 years, I now work out of the house with my husband and have the time to give back and allow the dogs to warm the hearts of people in our community!"
  • New File
    Isis Gray-Hound Isis Gray-Hound uploaded HP-MeetUp_2011_AUG - DECEMBER_ Calendar.doc
    July 13, 2011 at 1:31 PM
    Isis Gray-Hound
    HP-MeetUp_2011_AUG - DECEMBER_ Calendar.doc

    "2011_August-December_NC_Coast - Mountains Pets Events Calendar"
  • New Member
    Gretchen Henry Gretchen Henry joined
    July 6, 2011 at 10:58 AM
    Gretchen Henry
    "I am a widow, 63 yrs.young and a animal lover from way back. I have always had pets in my home Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds and even a garden snake once shared my home. I love reading animal stories of all kinds and I enjoy drawing animals"
  • New Member
    Jeanne Jeanne joined
    June 16, 2011 at 12:50 PM
    Jeanne
    "Jeanne and Pepsi"
  • New Member
    Tara W. Watson Tara W. Watson joined
    June 9, 2011 at 4:31 PM
    Tara W. Watson
    "I am interested in learning more about your group! I live in Cary and would like to learn more about your events and participate when my schedule permits! Thank you, Tara"
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