A program encouraging volunteers to read to dogs at a local shelter is making a lasting impact on one third graders life.
James Mixter enjoys reading to an audience, but the third grader does not enjoy reading in front of the kids in his class.
“They make fun of me when I read a baby book, when they read a big chapter book,” said Mixter.
James' mom, Jamie, says it's been hard for her to watch him struggle with reading, but she think she's found a new way to help get his confidence back.
“I’m immensely proud of him," she said.
Scotti Davis, the program director, says she understands that reading to dogs might seem like an outlandish idea, but for the dogs and the families like the Mixter family, it's made a difference.
“Reading a book, it warms the dog up to the interaction and we just saw an opportunity to get more volunteers to the shelter,” said Davis.
The program has given a love of reading to a child who just needed a little help opening up.