Students at east lake academy are practicing their reading skills, with help from some furry friends.

Mckamey animal center brings in dogs for the kids to read to them.

It teaches the animals social skills, and makes them easier to adopt.

And it helps calm the kids down, and makes them better readers.

News 12's david moore has another example of what's right with our schools.

Natural sound: hi... her name is reba.

Whitney: so we partner with mckamey animal center, they bring us two to three dogs every friday.

There's also a class that does it on mondays.

And we read to shelter dogs.

Natural sound: peter always look both ways before you cross the street.

But his red sweater makes me feel extra safe.

Whitney: there's a lot of research that supports the power and reading to animals.

Because they get the socialization that they would need to maybe find a family.

And also there's a lot of research to support that our kids do better when they read as well which is very evident in their reading strategies now.

Shayria: it makes you get confident more in class when he wants to read out loud.

In class when the teachers say read out loud.

Tricia: i don't know.

I feel like it helps out both of us.

Like it helps out the dogs and helps out us, because the dogs they get to feel more comfortable around people.

And i just love to help everybody.

Andres: it's cause i like the dogs.

And also helps me with my confidence of reading to other people and how i do it.

And if i get through it.

Dandre: i keep reading and i understand what's happening he's in a story.

Natural sound: laura: we're hoping to educate the children on how to take care of animals; how to treat them properly.

We just really enjoy being here with the children.

It makes i think everybody happy.

We try and educate them.

Not all dogs are dangerous.

And puppies do bite.

But they're not trying to be mean.

Natural sound: shayria: you get to like the pet the dogs.

Even though they don't listen it calms them and let them know what you're doing, and how it help them out.

Tricia: i just love the dogs.

Whitney: i definitely hope it helps foster their love of reading.

I hope it gives them a new love for doing it; and gives them a new purpose for doing it.

It creates a whole different atmosphere in here.

They're very calm.

They're very just... ready to dig in with the dogs and read to them every friday.

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