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Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.)

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Salt Lake City, UT
Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.)

The mission of the R.E.A.D. program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.

Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) ® is the first and foremost program that draws on the power of therapy dogs (and occasionally cats and bunnies) to help kids improve their reading and communication skills, while falling in love with books. It's been growing around the world since November of 1999 when ITA launched it in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. More than 5,700 therapy teams have trained and registered with the program, which had its biggest year of growth in 2016!

04/30/2026

Today is National Therapy Animal Day 🐾

A day to celebrate therapy animals, raise awareness of the comfort they bring through the human-animal bond, and honor the dedicated teams who share their compassion with others.

If you’ve ever experienced the quiet magic of a therapy animal, you know how powerful those moments can be!

To celebrate, we’re highlighting our More Dogs. More Books. More Smiles. campaign.

A generous donor is offering a $1,000 match to help us go further, and we’re extending the campaign through May 4 as we work toward our $15,000 goal in support of R.E.A.D.® programs and the books children take home after each session.

👉 Make a matched gift today in honor of National Therapy Animal Day: https://therapyanimals.networkforgood.com/projects/299217-r-e-a-d-more-dogs-more-books-more-smiles.

Thank you to the incredible therapy animal teams who so generously dedicate their time and compassion to this important work. ❤️

04/27/2026

🌼 Our Spring R.E.A.D.® Campaign starts today.

More Dogs. More Books. More Smiles.

Across the country, many children struggle with reading confidence, but a calm, friendly therapy dog can help change that.

For nearly three decades, our R.E.A.D. teams have helped young readers relax, build confidence, and discover the joy of reading.

This spring, we’re raising $15,000 to provide more R.E.A.D. teams with training and brand new books for the children they support.

📘 $100 can provide 6 to 10 books for children in the program.

Our campaign runs through May 1, and your support today can help put more books into children’s hands and bring more comfort to young readers who need it most.

Help us bring more dogs, more books, and more smiles to children in our communities.

Join us in supporting young readers. 🤍 Donate here:
https://therapyanimals.networkforgood.com/projects/299217-r-e-a-d-more-dogs-more-books-more-smiles

03/11/2026

🐾ITA Continuing Education Presents🐾
A special two-day seminar with Ann Howie, CCA, CCFT, ACSW

📅 Saturday, April 25 | 12:30–4 PM
Working With the Dog You’ve Got
Walk away with tools that create cooperation without force and confidence without pressure.

📅 Sunday, April 26 | 12:30–4 PM
Canine Enrichment Through Physical & Mental Wellness
Learn how to reduce stress, prevent injury, and help your dog thrive from the inside out.

These sessions explore personality-based partnership, emotional balance, enrichment, injury prevention, and long-term wellness for dogs.

Full details on ITA’s Events page: https://therapyanimals.org/events

📍 ITA’s The Family Dog
4048 South 2700 East, Salt Lake City

🎟 FREE for ITA Members

Non-ITA Members
Early Bird (through April 1)
• $25 – one session
• $35 -- both sessions

After April 1
• $49 – one session
• $59 – both sessions

📅 Register by April 21, 2026
📞 801.272.3439

03/03/2026

We’re thrilled to celebrate an extraordinary honor for ITA and our Executive Director, Kathy Klotz! 🎉

Kathy accepted the Founding Forward George Washington Honor Medal in the Community category, recognizing 30+ years of heartfelt dedication and the collective impact of ITA’s work. Former Utah Governor Gary Herbert presented the award, surrounded by proud ITA members.

We’re so proud of Kathy and grateful to see her visionary leadership recognized, a reflection of the powerful difference our entire ITA community makes every day. 💛

10/14/2025

🎄🐾 Strike a pose ! 🐶📸
Join us and The Photo Box Photography for a magical holiday photo session at the ITA Office!

🗓️ Nov 22–23
💲$40 for a 10-min session + FREE 8x10 print! All proceeds go to ITA!
✨ Festive backdrops, fun memories, and cherished keepsakes
📍 Reserve your spot now: Link in bio

🎅 Let’s make this Christmas pawsitively unforgettable!

07/04/2025

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate the birth of a nation founded on the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice. As we gather with friends and family, light up the skies, and reflect on our shared history, we also recommit to the work still ahead. Because freedom isn’t just a legacy—it’s a responsibility.

We believe in a future where liberty and justice truly are for all—regardless of race, gender, identity, or background. Here’s to progress, unity, and the power of community.💙❤️🤍

06/30/2025

Our teams love being part of community events like the Lehi Primary Children's Hospital Trauma Survivor's Day ❤️

Did you know that even short-term interactions with therapy dogs can significantly reduce cortisol, the stress hormone? 🧠

✨ That means less stress, less anxiety, and more joy. Just a few minutes with a furry friend can lift spirits and bring comfort in powerful ways. Whether it's a hospital, school, workplace, or community gathering, our therapy animals are here to help.

📩 Interested in having therapy dogs visit your organization? Reach out at therapyanimals.org, email [email protected], or tap the link in our bio!

📸 Picture from Kyler Gonzalez featuring the beautiful Mia.

06/24/2025

🦮 Most people don't understand the difference between service animals, support animals, and therapy animals. This is bad because...

🚨 Confusion can lead to legal issues, harm to animals, and risks to public safety.🐾

Dogs play powerful roles in our lives—offering comfort, support, and even life-saving assistance. But not all working dogs are the same, and mislabeling them can have serious consequences.

Here's a quick breakdown:

🐕‍🦺 Service Dogs: Trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. Protected under the ADA. Full public access rights.

🐶 Therapy Animals: Provide comfort in places like hospitals and schools. No public access rights. Must be invited.

🐕 Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Offer companionship for mental health. No training required. Protected only under housing laws.

🏥 Facility Dogs: Work with professionals in settings like courts or clinics. Trained like service dogs but don’t have the same legal access.

Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal is illegal in 34 states and can lead to fines or jail time. It also undermines the rights of people who truly rely on service dogs.

Let’s protect the integrity of these roles—for the people who need them and the animals who serve them.

06/19/2025

On June 19, 1865 — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free. Juneteenth marks this powerful moment in history. At ITA, we believe it’s vital to celebrate Juneteenth as a tribute to resilience, a recognition of hard-fought freedom, and a commitment to justice and equity for all.

06/17/2025

🐾 Want to make a difference with your furry friend? Become a therapy team volunteer with ITA! ❤️ Here’s how to get started:

1️⃣ Make sure your animal truly loves meeting new people
2️⃣ Practice basic training: sit, stay, down, leave it
3️⃣ Visit therapyanimals.org/volunteer to read required materials, watch a few videos, and take the self-assessment
4️⃣ Join us for an interview to see if therapy work is the right fit
5️⃣ Attend our workshop (it’s all about the human end of the leash!)
6️⃣ Complete your team assessment and orientation
7️⃣ Start visiting and keep growing your skills together 🐶💫

Ready to share the love? Let’s get started! 🐕‍🦺✨

Address

4050 S 2700 E
Salt Lake City, UT
84124

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18012723439

Website

https://therapyanimals.org/read/

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