Current Venues
Paws and Think Volunteer Venues
Kathy Janes-Scheduling Coordinator
Cell-317-490-6929
Venue / Address / Time/Day / Orientation Needed / Job DescriptionBrooke’s Place (St. Luke’s)
Kate Pedersen / St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indpls / 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
1st and 4th Thursday of every OTHER month
(varies per their schedule) / Observe program with another volunteer team without your dog / Assist children with the grief process. Child-centered. Children enjoy tricks and activities.
Brooke’s Place (Butler Lab School, IPS 60)
Kate Pedersen / Butler Lab School/IPS 60**
3330 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Indianapolis 46205
Enter through the main door.
Go down the stairs to the right and wait outside the kitchen/cafeteria / 7:00pm-8:30 pm
1st and 4th Wednesday of every OTHER month
(varies per their schedule) / Observe program with another volunteer team without your dog / Assist children with the grief process. Child-centered. Children enjoy tricks and activities.
Hoosier Village Nursing Home
Cheryl Urbanski
Activity Director
(317)-873-3353 (ext 138) / 5300 W 96th
Indianapolis, IN
(Behind Bill Estes)
Go to the 4-Way stop and continue through. Watch out for the traffic bumps. Keep on the same road until you see the Crawford Manor apartments on the left. At the next available road on the right, turn right. Follow this road back to the Hoosier Village Health Center. / 3:00 to 4:00
3rd Saturday of each month / Observe program with another volunteer team without your dog / Visit clients in their rooms. First ask if client would like a visit with dog. Building is very warm, may want to bring water/bowl for your dog.
Joy’s House
Candace Preston
317.254.0828
Volunteer Coordinator / 2028 E Broad Ripple Ave.
Indianapolis / 2nd &4th Friday of each month
from 1:30 to 2:30 / None needed as staff will guide you, but you are encouraged to observe with another volunteer team first. / Visit adults with disabilities in a home-like atmosphere. Time is not structured. Clients may like to walk dogs outside in fenced in area with supervision.
Westfield Public Library / 333 W Hoover St
Westfield, IN / 2nd Saturday of each month from 10:30-11:30 am / Meet with venue coordinator 15 minutes prior to first session / Venue coordinator will have child select book to read. Children read to dog one at a time (others wait patiently and applaud at end).
Roudebush Veteran’s Administration Medical Center
Tabitha Ingram
317-988-2734 / 1481 W. 10th Street
Indianapolis, IN46202
/ Check with Kathy Janes for current procedures
/ Teams need to attend advanced class or be approved for complex visits.
Complete hospital volunteer interview, followed by health screening and orientation.
See Kathy for complete process as dictated by federal government. / Visit and greet employees, patients and families to ease the stress of the hospital environment. Work with veterans in physical, occupational and speech rehab
Visit patients coping with the stress of service
Eskenazi Health
(Wishard Hospital)
Catrece Young / 1001 West 10th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Also several clinics / Times are flexible, with hours available Monday through Saturday / Complete hospital volunteer application and interview, followed by health screening. Orientation is individualized Catrece Young
Observe program with anther volunteer team without your dog / Multiple venues are greatly in need of teams. These include Midtown Mental Health, the Pediatric Outpatient unit, Senior Care and Embrace (women undergoing cancer treatment) to name a few.
Carmel Public Library
Holly Southern / 55 4th Avenue Southeast
Carmel, IN 46032
(Across from Carmel HS on Main St.) / Fourth Saturday of each month
3 teams 10:30-11:30
Summer also 11:30-12:30 / Please observe a reading program before signing up with your dog. / Children sign up in advance for 15 minute time slots to read to one of the dogs.
Altenheim Health and Living Center
Jan Horvath / 3525 E. Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46237
317-788-4261 / Every Wednesday
1:30 – 2:30
Meet with Jan to arrange other times / Volunteers wishing to participate would have to stop by the Center and have a TB test at no expense. They would then have to come back in a few days to have it read. The only other requirement is to have a short orientation with the Activities Director about resident safety. / Visiting senior residents in both the residential and healthcare environments.
Active Day of Indianapolis NW
David Williamson
317-297-3730
/ 6620 Parkdale Place, Suite R
( near 34th & I465)
Indianapolis
317-5690014 / Third Tuesday of each month
2:00 – 3:00 / Volunteers should observe without their dog initially. There are various levels of disability that are visited. / Visit day care guests in common rooms with staff providing guidance.
Eleanor Skillen Elementary
IPS School 34 / 1410 Wade Street
Indianapolis IN 46203
317-226-4234 / Every Thursday from 1:00 – 2:00
SUMMER VACATION / Paws & Think Reading Workshop or experience in one of our Paws to Read school or library programs. R.E.A.D. membership is highly recommended. Contact Kathy Janes / 6th graders will read to the dogs. Handlers will assure that the dog remains quiet and focused on the child as they work to increase joy in reading, literacy skills and inclusion.
Glendale Branch, Indianapolis Public Library
Melissa Wooten, Mgr / 6101 North Keystone Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 275-4410 / Every Tuesday from 6:15 to 7:15
Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30
Every Thursday from 5:00-6:00 / Please observe a reading program before signing up with your dog.
All Indianapolis Public Library Branches require an application and a background check. / Children will gather to take turns reading to the dog. There are no scheduled one-on-one times
Clare Bridge of Carmel
Amanda Ramsey
317-580-0389 / 301 Executive Dr.
Carmel, IN 46032
317-580-0389 / 1st & 3rd Tuesday from 2:00 – 3:00
2nd & 4th Thursday from 6:00 – 7:00 / Amanda will guide you through your initial visit and provide a brief orientation.
An application and a TB test are required.
There is a resident cat on the 2nd floor. / Clare Bridge provides Alzheimer's and dementia care for senior residents in a home-like setting. There is also some hospice care provided. Facility has a free roaming cat on the 2nd floor as well as an aviary and large fish tank.
Spring Mill Meadows
Dawn Common, Memory Care Unit 317-872-7211
Andrea Bumps, Rehab & 2nd floor, 317-872-7211 ext 332 / 2140 W. 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46260 / 1st &3rd Friday of each month
from 1:30 to 2:30 / Please bring a copy of your dog’s vaccination (particularly rabies) record on your first visit. / We visit the memory care unit on the first floor as well as patients on the 2nd floor. Rehab on the 1st floor may be visited as well.
Indy Reads Books
Jenny Dwenger
317-384-1496 / 911 Massachusetts AveIndianapolis, IN 46202 / 1st and 3rd Saturdays,
11:30 to 12:30 / Prior participation in a library reading program or R.E.A.D. workshop is helpful / Indy Reads Books donates all of its revenue to the non-profit organization Indy Reads, which provides free literacy tutoring to adults in the area. Indy Reads Books relies mostly on volunteer staff members who have a passion for books and for promoting literacy.
Indy Reads with Families First
Indy Reads: Angie Garcia, 317-275-4037
Families First: Peggy Campbell, (317) 634-6341 ext. 245 / English Foundation bldg.
615 N. Alabama, Suite 320
Indianapolis IN 46204 / Last Wednesday of alternating months, 6:00 – 7:30 PM and walk-thru to tell about; first Wednesday 9:00 – 10:00 AM and third Thursday at 10:00 – 10:45 / Prior participation in a library reading program or R.E.A.D. Free parking is available on the south side of the building / Indy Reads provides Family Literacy Nights at Families First. We are partnering with them to bring therapy dogs to encourage the love of reading in the children.
Castleton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Felicia Burdine-Searcy
317-845-0032 / Castleton Health Care Center
7630 East 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46256 / 2nd Wednesday at 3 PM and 4th Saturday at 3 PM
of each month / This facility has long term care as well as rehab. They maintain a list of patients wanting visits at the receptionist desk or on the bulletin board. (Please return before leaving) / Residential care, skilled nursing & rehabilitation. They love the visits!
Eagle Library Georgia Ellars
Children’s Librarian
317-275-343 / 3325 Lowry Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222
317-275-4340 / 4:00 - 5:00 on the
3rd Monday of each month also 4:00 – 5:00 on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month / Please observe a reading program before signing up with your dog.
All Indianapolis Public Library Branches require an application and a background check / Children will gather to take turns reading to the dog. Whether groups or one-one-one is yet to be decided. There is a high percentage of Hispanic population in the area.
Decatur Library
Gregory Hill
(317) 275-4330
Children's Librarian, Will Smither, , / 5301 Kentucky Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46221 / Third Saturday at 10:30 AM / Please observe a reading program before signing up with your dog.
All Indianapolis Public Library Branches require an application and a background check / Children will gather to take turns reading to the dog. Whether groups or one-one-one is yet to be decided
Grassy Creek Elementary School- Kara Smith, Special Education / 10330 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46239 / Wednesday
1:50 – 3:00 PM / Experienced teams would be best, but others may elect to observe and determine their capability.
This school serves K – 4th grades / We do a variety of activities with this small class of 4 to 8 students, including letting them toss a ball to the dog, brush or walk (on double leash) the dog, read to the dog, and just general interaction. Bring your “R.E.A.D.” blanket to define your space (they need to be large enough for you, your dog, and a child).
Crestview Elementary School
Eve Robertson, Assist. Principal
317-964-4200 / 7600 East 71st Street
Indianapolis, IN 46256 / Fridays, 8:30 to 9:50 AM / School background check required.
Paws & Think Reading Workshop or experience in one of our Paws to Read school or library programs. R.E.A.D. membership is highly recommended. Contact Kathy Janes We will be working primarily with 2nd grade / Handlers will assure that the dog remains quiet and focused on the child as they work to increase joy in reading, literacy skills and inclusion. Students are select 2nd graders
IPS# 42
Elder W. Diggs
Assist. Principal
317-226-4242 / 1002 West 25th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208 / Wednesday, 11:00 – 12:00 noon
TBA / Paws & Think R.E.A.D. Workshop or experience in one of our school or library programs. R.E.A.D. membership is highly recommended. Contact Kathy / Handlers will assure that the dog remains quiet and focused on the child as they work to increase joy in reading, literacy skills and inclusion
IPS #79
Carl Wilde
Karen Kober
(317) 226-4279 / 5002 W. 34th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46224 / 1st & 3rd Tuesday
7:45 to 8:30 AM / Kindergarten Reading Club is selected by Ms Kober and will meet before school. There will probably be 8-9 students. Read experience preferred / Handlers will assure that the dog remains quiet and focused on the child as they work to increase joy in reading, literacy skills and inclusion
Pendleton Library
Read and Dream
hiatus for the summer / 595 East Water St
Pendleton IN 46064 / 2nd Saturday of each month
1:00 – 3:00 PM / Sponsored by the South Madison Youth Coalition, the R.A.D. Reading Club, is for Kindergarten and 1st grades.
R.E.A.D. membership preferred / Children will gather to take turns reading to the dog. Word games and other activities are provided as well.
Washington Woods Elementary / 17950 Grassy Branch Rd, Westfield, IN 46074 / Weekly, Friday 9-10:30 AM / Program coordinated by P&T Volunteer Lori McLeaster using her dog / Fall 2014 the program has been approved to expand to Kindergarten
Auntie Mame’s Child Development Center
Na’Shaunee Short
(317) 547-3551 / 3120 North Emerson Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46218 / During school breaks as arranged / No orientation is required, although the school break programs are Paws to Read programs, so your dog should be comfortable with lying calmly near a group of small children that are sometimes pretty wiggly! / This facility provides early childhood education and school age programs including before/afterschool and summer day camp for children ages 6 through 12.We schedule Paws to Read programs at the center as well as Youth-Canine programs during the summer
Embracing Hope Bereavement Center
Elizabeth Boring
(317) 962-0800 / 1828 N. Illinois St
Indianapolis IN 46202 / Scheduled Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM / No orientation is needed but dogs should be calm and not excitable / Eight week sessions are held for grieving Riley families. We are invited to the evening when the kids tell their stories and the final evening. Children are grouped by age; 2-3 dogs may attend
Irvington Branch IPL
Sue Kennedy, Br.Mgr
317-275-4450 / 5625 E.Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46219 / 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 6:30 to 7:30 PM / Please observe a reading program before signing up with your dog.
All Indianapolis Public Library Branches require an application and a background check / Children will gather to take turns reading to the dog. Whether groups or one-one-one is yet to be decided
Aspen Trace
Katie Rumpf
(317) 535-3344 / 3154 South SR 135 Greenwood, IN 46143 / New facility, schedule pending / TB testing will be required / Facility has assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, specialized memory care and long-term skilled nursing care
Julian Center
Betsy Whaley / 2011 N. Meridian St
Indianapolis IN 46202 / Information to come
Golden Living
Mary Pedrick or Donna Judd
(317) 872-8811 / 2002 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260 / Dates will be posted on the calendar; primarily Monday afternoons from 2:45 – 3:45 / Extended living care for individuals that are physically and/or mentally incapacitated
Indy Reads/Families First
Gigi Nicholson / 396 N. Mount Zion Road
Lebanon IN 46052 / Family Literacy Workshop
9:30 – 11:00 AM
As scheduled every other month
IPS #67
Stephen Foster Elementary / 653 N. Somerset Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222 / TBA
Eastridge Elementary
Special Education / 10930 E. 10th St. Indianapolis, IN 46229 / TBA
IU Health Hospice
Nicole Barnes
317-962-0277 or 317-366-1662 (work cell) / IU Health Hospitals and private homes / Scheduled individually / Required completion of IU Health Volunteer Application as well as a Volunteering in Hospice orientation
For directions, please use MapQuest or Yahoo driving directions. Schedule is sometimes altered at the end of the year because of the holidays. Watch for emails with changes.