Program pairs youth and canines
Sometimes on Saturdays at the Humane Society of Marion County’s animal shelter, kids read to canines and felines as they learn about proper animal care and the humane treatment of animals.
And the dogs and cats get something out of it as well—companionship.
The DogGone Good Reading Program is for youth in grades one through five. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on select Saturdays. There is a maximum of 12 children per session and each participant must be registered in advance. A parent or guardian must accompany the child and stay at the shelter (in a separate area) while the child reads.
According to the society’s webpage, children do better when reading to a non-judgmental dog with no outside criticism.
To learn more, visit thehsmc.org/doggone-good-reading-program
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