Kids read to pets at Humane Society of High Plains

Martha Becker, seated in chair, reads to Georgia the dog, along with her daughters Lanie, 11, left and Bella, 4, right, on Thursday afternoon at the Humane Society of the High Plains.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

A family of three reads to a dog Thursday at the humane society as part of jointly sponsored program by the humane society and the Hays Public Library.

More than 100 kids and adults sat next to dog cages and curled up with cats Thursday at the Humane Society of the High Plains to read to animals.

Officials from the Humane Society and the Hays Public Library, which co-sponsored the event, said they thought the reading program benefited both the animals and the children.

Sara Schoenthaler, HPL early literacy librarian, said reading out loud helps build literacy skills.

“I think one of the big benefits is reading aloud and working on verbal language in a way that isn’t intimidating or frightening to the kids, because it can be scary when you are asked to read in front of the class and you are not good at reading,” Schoenthaler said. “This is a way students can read to animals. Maybe they can start doing it more. They can start coming out here more and really work on their verbal skills.”

A girl pets a cat as she reads her book Thursday at the humane society. The program was meant to give kids more confidence reading aloud.

Schoenthaler said the library was very impressed with the turnout. The library provided books for the event, although some children brought their own books. Youth of all ages from preschool to teens participated.

Betty Hansen, shelter manager, said shelter workers have found the animals seem to be more calm when people sit in front of their cages and talk to them.

“It would give the kids the reading and the dogs the company,” Hansen said of the project.

“The animals seem to love it,” she added.

Even though the shelter was swamped with many more people than it expected for the event, Hansen said she thought the dogs seemed to be more calm as the children read to them.

Hansen said the event also helps promote the humane society and its mission of encouraging responsible pet ownership and adoption.

A girl reads to two puppies at the humane society. The puppies fell asleep as she read to them.

Both Schoenthaler and Hansen said they were interested in repeating the reading program. However, in the future the program would likely require registration, so the shelter is not inundated with so many people all at once.