Service dogs Digory the Labrador retriever, Molly the rottweiler, and Lillipop the chihuahua are part of the All Ears Reading research project with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

These dogs' specialty is listening attentively as little kids practice reading out loud. Look (above) at Lollipop's intense gaze! How could you help but keep reading to that? The study has shown increased reading skills among third graders involved in the study.

These are "second chance" dogs from a rescue organization. The photo below shows Lollipop during her original training by Erika Hart of Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. Zachary Callahan, age seven, is helping in the training. "When I read to her," said Zach, "she seems to calm down."