Tail Wags & Book Bags

Tail Wags and Book Bags is a 501(c)3 that provides service dogs to schools to assist students challenged by learning differences such as dyslexia, executive function, speech and language, visual/motor coordination, sensory integration and ADHD.

We are dedicated to enhancing the educational, emotional and social well being of our students. The dogs bring joy to learning for struggling students.  Each dog is accompanied by a certified handler with a Master’s Degree in Education. 

Our dogs know 50 tasks and are integrated into goal specific lesson plans.  This pedagogical approach reaches beyond  pet therapy.  We pair the warmth of wise dogs with tailored education.

Tail Wags & Book Bags creates opportunities for students to bond with dogs. In turn, they relax and engage with increased resilience when challenged. Our dogs are raised and trained by service dog organizations accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI).

The nonprofit currently has two beautiful, fun loving, hard working yellow Labrador Retrievers named Bingo and Karma. They each know 50 tasks and are integrated into classrooms, speech/occupational therapy sessions, social work, and private tutoring. Our literacy approach is based on the Orton-Gillingham method.

The assistance dogs perform tasks such as:

– deliver spelling words in a plastic pail

– dress up as actresses in school plays

– ring a doorbell to signal transitions

– greet students with a “high five”

– paint with a brush in their mouth in art class

– pressing a recording button in speech therapy to play back word sounds

– pick up flashcards with their mouth to deliver to students in math class

– listen attentively without judgement in reading

– provide a sense of calm and reassurance