Every dog deserves to be showered with love and affection each and every day, yet many abandoned dogs sit scared, alone, and unloved as they wait for the day someone can hopefully bring them home and make them a part of a family.
In order to help these lovable four-legged animals get the companionship they crave and deserve, the Humane Society of Missouri started the Shelter Buddies Reading Program, which brings in local kids to read to the dogs so they can get adjusted to being around people, as well as encourage kids to be more compassionate.
After completing a 10-hour training program, which teaches kids to work wth the animals and read their body language, kids aged 6 to 15 can come back any time to read to the dogs. The kids simply sit in front of the dog’s kennel to read and give the fearful and timid dogs a treat when they show interest and engage.
“Ideally, that shy and fearful dog will approach and show interest. If so, the kids reinforce that behavior by tossing them a treat,”Jo Klepacki, the program’s director, said.. “What this is also doing is to bring the animals to the front in case potential adopters come through. They are more likely to get adopted if they are approaching and interacting, rather than hiding in the back or cowering”
While the dogs are clearly benefitting from the program, the kids are learning a crucial lesson.
“It’s encouraging children to develop empathy with animals. It’s a peaceful, quiet exercise,” Klepacki said. “They’re seeing fearfulness in these animals, and seeing the positive effect they can have. It encourages them to look at things from an animals perspective. That helps them better connect with animals and people in their lives.”
Watch the entire video below to learn more about this amazing project.
Would you have read more as a kid if it meant you could hang out with some adorable pups? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this amazing idea with friends and family on Facebook.
[Featured image credit: Youtube/hsmolovesanimals]
Awesome Project Encourages Kids To Read While Giving Lonely Shelter Dogs Some Company is an article from: LifeDaily