ABOUT

PAWS FOR TALES

– est. 2003 –

Paws for Tales was started by 3 Friends.

In 2003, Ms. Karen Wulff and her two friends, Kathy Tripcony and Beth Nelson, came up with a special idea. At the time, Karen and Kathy were teachers, while Beth raised puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. These ladies had all raised puppies to become guide dogs for blind people, but the puppies they raised didn’t become official guides. They were left wondering what to do with these wonderful animals – animals who had been raised to spend their lives helping blind people have a better life. The ladies wanted to find a way to utilize their puppies’ skills to benefit other people in Fort Collins.

The friends decided to train their puppies to help motivate elementary students with reading. The dogs could quietly and patiently listen to a young reader without criticizing or correcting mistakes. In some cases, students could not read at all. So those students were asked to tell the dog a story using pictures in their book!

The ladies firmly believed that their dogs could help young readers gain confidence and learn to read faster and better. So Karen, Kathy and Beth set up ongoing reading assistance periods at Putnam Elementary School. The reading sessions were wildly popular and soon spread throughout the Poudre School District to Dunn, Irish, Riffenburg, Bacon, Beattie and Bauder Elementary Schools.

And that was the beginning of Paws for Tales!

ROSIE

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR FOUNDER, KATHY TRIPCONY, & HER THERAPY DOG, GATWICK.

LOUIE

ACCOLADES

Paws for Tales Has Been Helping Fort Collins Students Learn to Read for 20 Years!

2003, Paws for Tales was featured in the Coloradoan article, “Dogs Motivate Putnam Students.”
2004, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Larimer County, TLC Puppy Raising Club’s Newsletter featured an article about Paws for Tales.
2004, Lydia’s Style Magazine wrote about Paws for Tales. The article was titled, “Doggone Helpful,” and talked about the value of service and therapy animals.
2005, Paws for Tales was featured in the Coloradoan article, “Pooches Help Kids Learn to Love Reading.”
2005, Paws for Tales was given the Colorado Association of Partners in Education (CAPE) Group Award by Jerry Wilson, Superintendent of Schools, Poudre School District.
2005, United States Senator from Colorado, Ken Salazar, congratulated Paws for Tales on their recognition as a Volunteer of the Year by the Colorado Association of Partners in Education.
2007 & 2008, Paws for Tales was a recipient of Walmart Foundation’s Good Works $1,000 grant.
2015, Paws for Tales was featured in the Coloradoan article, “Helping PAWS Provides Comfort Reading Aloud.”

“Bud McMahon and the entire Paws for Tales team of dogs and handlers were so accommodating, prepared, and, of course, adorable. To begin with, Bud is responsive and flexible. He met with me multiple times before the day of our event to go over details. Our event was for parents with their children aged 0-3. Bud and his team began with a short presentation for families on how to approach a new dog, highlighting the importance of asking “May I pet your dog?” The handlers were very friendly, kind, and easygoing as they interacted with the parents and children. Where to begin with the dogs? They were the most well-behaved group of pups you could imagine. Despite the young age and quick movements of the children, the dogs were patient and relaxed. While parents and caregivers read stories the children pet the dogs’ tummies. The event was held at our office, and even staff not involved in the event came by to watch and experience the cuteness. Overall, it was wonderful and educational. We were so grateful to have Paws for Tales join us, and we look forward to having them come back in the future!!”
Lexi Blaise, EC Parent Engagement Specialist, Fullana Learning Center, Poudre School District

PAWS FOR TALES RECOGNITION, POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, NOVEMBER, 2023

“Good evening, I wanted to briefly say thank you again for the services you provide to our students. I attended the BOE (Poudre Board of Education) recognition and was so excited to see all the service dogs there. I was not able to speak any words aloud but I do want to say Paws for Tales has impacted our students and school environment with a greater love for reading. Our students eagerly wait by the door with their books anxiously waiting to read to our furry friends. Then they come back in showing off the stickers on their bookmarks. My class even reads to the dogs in Spanish so we are positively impacting each other. We are creating bilingual dogs and learners. 😁

So when they ask who let the dogs out, I am proud to say: Irish Elementary let the dogs out”
Rachel Garza, First Grade Teacher, Irish Elementary, Poudre School District

PALMER, EARLY CHILDHOOD VISIT, POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT

COOPER, EARLY CHILDHOOD VISIT, POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Thank you, Palmer – From Michael

Thank you, Finley – From Addie

Thank You Notes From the Kids:

Condolences for Finley – From Eden

Thank you, Finley – From Miracle

Thank you, Palmer – From Eva

PAWS FOR TALES

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide a positive reading experience for children using specially trained dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To form a network of caring individuals who are willing to share their certified dogs to facilitate children’s reading.

PAWS FOR TALES is a registered nonprofit corporation in good standing in the great State of Colorado.

paws-for-tales-certificate-of-good-standing-state-of-colorado Download

ALITA

PROCEDURES:

We will regularly provide teams of handlers and dogs to a school.
Our handlers and dogs will sit with each student to make them feel comfortable in a non-judgmental environment.
The student will read a short selection of their choosing to the dog.
At the end of the school year, each student will be presented with a book to help maintain their reading skills.