Therapy dog helps first-graders learn to read

Ridgefield — Stephanie Frasier’s first grade students at Union Ridge Elementary School had a rather attentive and furry visitor to help them practice reading: Bruno, a Munsterlander dog who participates in the Columbia River Pet Partners program. The program is a Vancouver-based organization that uses therapy animals to enrich people’s lives. Jason Winters, a disabled veteran, brought Bruno to Union Ridge each Friday, and students’ names were picked out of a jar so each student had a chance to read to Bruno. The students also used Bruno’s visit to learn about therapy dogs. “This has become such a great opportunity to teach our students about compassion for animals and help Jason give back and be a part of his community,” Fraiser said. “Most importantly, Bruno’s visits give teachers another tool to get our students excited about reading.”