GREYHOUND BARKS AT No.10 TO LAUNCH BOOK

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Published on Monday, 25 June 2012 14:12

Last Updated on 25 June 2012

Monica Costa

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A Greyhound called Danny recently visited 10 Downing Street to raise awareness about the benefits of children reading to dogs.

Launching his new book, ‘Danny goes to London’, Danny hopes children will be encouraged to pick it up and read to dogs like him. Danny is a Reading, Education and Assistance Dog (READ), and is sponsored by the Kennel Club’s Bark and Read Foundation to go into schools and listen to children read.

My six year old son absolutely adores this book and managed to read it all on his own. Very very educational! This is highly recommended by London Mums.

In his book, Danny documents his unique job. The book is a children’s story, telling the true-life tale of Danny’s journey. Dogs have long been known for their therapeutic value, but in recent years they have been credited in helping children learn to read. In the USA, READ has been using dogs to help children improve their literacy since 1999.

The Kennel Club has been at the forefront of bringing this initiative to children in the UK and last year created the Bark and Read Foundation which offers financial support to both READ and Pets As Therapy who also provide dogs to go into schools to help children to read.

Tony Nevett, owner of Danny and READ volunteer, explains about the book and Danny’s incredible journey: “Dogs are non-judgemental and do not criticise and so help to build self-esteem. To take part in the scheme, dogs have to be registered with a charity such as Pets as Therapy and assessed to make sure they are suitable to work with children. Danny has an amazing temperament and the children love him. We have been asked to schools around the country and I have had numerous teachers tell me how much of an improvement their children have made with the help of Danny.

“Literacy is still a problem in the UK and something that has to be tackled. ‘Danny Goes to London’ was written to give children a fun book to read and learn about Danny’s amazing journey.”

‘Danny Goes to London’ is available on Amazon for £6.29, for more information about the Bark and Read Foundation visit: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/barkandread

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The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.

It runs the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs and the Petlog database, which is the UK’s largest reunification service for microchipped animals. The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is the only scheme in the UK that monitors and sets standards for breeders, in order to protect the welfare of puppies and breeding bitches. It also runs the UK’s largest dog training programme, the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme and licenses shows and clubs across a wide range of activities, which help dog owners to bond and enjoy life with their dogs. The Kennel Club runs the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, and the Discover Dogs event at Earls Court, London, which is a fun family day out that educates people about how to buy responsibly and care for their dog.

The Kennel Club invests in welfare campaigns, dog training and education programmes and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports research into dog diseases and dog welfare charities, including Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations that re-home dogs throughout the UK. The Kennel Club jointly runs health screening schemes with the British Veterinary Association and through the Charitable Trust, funds the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust, which is at the forefront of pioneering research into dog health.