This New Program is Helping Shelter Dogs Adjust to Being Around Kids
This is the cutest literacy initiative you've ever seen.
An animal shelter has started a program that encourages kids to reach to dogs that are waiting to be adopted.
The Humane Society of Missouri created this program to help the dogs acclimate to having people around them, especially young children.
The Shelter Buddy Reading program also helps to teach kids empathy for abandoned animals.
Children and teens ages 6 to 15 can come volunteer for this program and will learn all about dog body language before they start interacting with the animals.
The kids learn how to approach shy or skittish dogs and the dogs relax while listening to a book being read to them.
The program started last Christmas and has been extremely successful.
The volunteers undergo a 10-hour training and then can come back to read to the dogs whenever they'd like.
Check out this video to learn more about the program.