Join our Pack!

First things first: true to our name, Reading to the Rescue proudly works with rescue dogs, our favorite breed of all.

Whether your dog came from a shelter, a rescue group, a rehoming situation, or even found you on the street, we welcome dogs whose stories include rescue. 

For this program, we do not accept dogs who were purchased.

At Reading to the Rescue, our volunteer dogs play a special role. They help children build confidence, literacy skills, and compassion — while also helping families see rescue animals in a whole new light.  Because our visits take place in libraries, schools, and community spaces, we look for dogs with specific temperaments that thrive in these environments. 

These are a few of the basic qualities we look for:

• Mostly calm patient demeanor.
• Enjoys or tolerates close proximity to children of varying ages.
• Comfortable with uncoordinated petting and child-level handling.
• Occasional hugs tolerated                   
• Remains relaxed and comfortable during handling of all parts of the body 
• Low reactivity to sudden movements, noises or dropped objects.
• Emotionally resilient and able to recover from mild stressors.
• Confident in new environments.
• Strong, trusting bond with their handler 
• Gentle and tolerant of imperfect, enthusiastic interaction 
• No history of aggression toward people or animals.
• Able to remain settled with handler on carpet, blanket or mat.
• Neutral or positive responses to other dogs and unfamiliar adults.

Rescue dog volunteers participate in Reading to the Rescue programs alongside their pet parents. The organization also engages volunteers in roles including Reading Support and Dog Handling.
All volunteers must successfully complete a criminal background check due to the program’s work with children and other vulnerable populations. 

If you’d like to see Reading to the Rescue in action, we invite you to join us at one of our upcoming events.
For the safety of everyone involved, dogs may only participate after completing our evaluation process. Until then, we ask that only human volunteers attend. 

Ready to make a difference? Join Reading to the Rescue today and become a volunteer. We welcome individuals of all ages and backgrounds, and look forward to working with you.