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Children read to dogs for National Storytelling Week
Image: Kennel Club
Bark and Read Scheme encourages children to read to dogs

As part of a nation-wide celebration of storytelling this week, dogs have become the unlikely reading partners of children. National Storytelling Week, which runs from 26 January to 2 February, aims to promote storytelling in schools, libraries, museums and art galleries across the UK.

The Kennel Club have joined in with the awareness drive by funding the Bark and Read Scheme, supporting charities that take dogs into schools and libraries for children to read to. The scheme has been running for just over 12 months, and aims to improve confidence by encouraging children to read to a non-judgemental companion.

According to the Kennel Club's librarian Ciara Farrell, the scheme has seen fantastic results, with reading levels shooting up, and children becoming more confident and interested in reading. She said: "National Storytelling Week is a great opportunity to highlight the value of the art of storytelling. Bark and Read has had some fantastic results from children reading to dogs - one school has seen a pupil's reading age increase by two years in just six months.

"I hope all the children involved have a great time reading their favourite stories to their four-legged friends in celebration of National Storytelling Week."

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary added: “Storytelling is an important part of education. Reading stories can help build confidence and improve literacy skills and reading to dogs is proven to help develop these skills through both the calming effect of the dog and the fact that the dog will listen to a child read without being critical."

Actress Zoe Wanamaker CBE also supports the scheme, calling it "an inspiring idea." She adds: "We all know that dogs are great listeners and won't judge if we stumble over a word. The concept makes reading time fun and helps to develop children's self esteem and passion for reading while they're still finding their voice."


The Bark and Read Foundation supports four charities: Pets As Therapy, through their Read 2 Dogs programme; Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ); Dogs Helping Kids, a North Devon charity, and Caring Canines, based in Bournemouth.

Click here for more information on the Bark and Read Scheme.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.