Because many animal shelters are overcrowded, and if their pets do not find new homes within a fair length of time, they are put down.

Many shelter dogs have a “timid” or “unfriendly” temperament, which is one of the primary reasons they do not find permanent homes. Animal abuse, neglect, and hardship have tainted the lives of these dogs, making it even more difficult for them to come out of their shells.

A great project launched by the Humane Society of Missouri has provided shelter dogs with an excellent chance to interact in the most positive environment imaginable!. It is via this odd effort, known as the “Shelter Buddies Reading Program,” that youngsters ages 6 to 15 may teach shelter dogs by reading to them from their favorite books!

The first few sessions of this program have been absolutely fantastic thus far. When youngsters read aloud in soothing tones and engage with the pets, they encourage positive behavior reinforcement and make the shy canines feel secure and welcomed. As the pups grow more extroverted and “adoptable,” the students get an understanding of the subtleties of a shelter dog’s body language. Everything works out in the end!

After seeing how well the initiative has worked out, the Animal Rescue League of New York has chosen to make the reading exercise a permanent element of their annual holiday festivities. A Christmas initiative called “Deck The Howls” encourages children to make adoption greeting cards and other presents for their new animal companions as part of their Christmas preparations. This kind of program for “unwanted” dogs would be fantastic if every animal shelter did it.

Watch the kids’ lovely bonding session with the lonely shelter canines in the video below!