A Twofold Program That Encourages Children to Read, and Helps Shelter Pups Get Adopted

The Humane Society of Missouri is running an incredible program called “Shelter Buddies” and its purpose is twofold: it encourages children to read, and it also helps the shelter dogs become acclimated to trusting people. Why reading you ask? Joellyn Klepacki, the assistant director at the shelter claims that by children facing away from the dogs as they read, the dogs may engage in a calm activity giving them the confidence to approach the front of the kennel. She also says that dogs who do approach have a higher chance of being adopted. “We’re trying to reduce the amount of stay, the length of stay for the dogs in our shelter and get them adopted more quickly,” explains Joellyn. Hear more about this wonder program in the video above!