GARLAND (1080 KRLD)- Students in Garland ISD read picture books to shelter animals Wednesday as they prepare to start the next school year. Students and their parents read to dogs and cats at Garland's animal shelter.
"Kids really connect with animals, so this is an easy way for them to build those skills," says Community Outreach Coordinator Christie Fuentes.
Fuentes says the books could help kids build confidence in their reading skills heading into a new year but also help the animals learn social skills and get more comfortable interacting with families.
"We just love for the community to connect with us," she says. "One of the reasons we do this is to get the community and kids to connect with our shelter and learn the importance of adopting. We have so many amazing pets available for adoption right now."
"You could read to other dogs, and it's cool we could meet other dogs," a girl entering the sixth grade said.
"It was pretty fun reading with Bolt," a boy entering eighth grade said. "I'm pretty sure he liked the story."
Parents said they were glad their kids could have fun while also helping them build skills to help them excel in school. Desteny Salinas, the sixth grader, kept reading as the dog paired with her would look around the room. She said the dogs at the shelter were still better behaved than her own at home.
"They are super energetic," she said. "One time, I read them a Junie B. Jones book, and it's weird because they wouldn't sit down and listen. They would just pay attention to other things."
The shelter's Fuentes says volunteers enjoy working with kids because many might start out nervous to read a book out loud, but the animals can take pressure off and help kids realize how much they can accomplish.
"It's so sweet to see the kids open up and be able to read to the shelter pets. Some kids are a bit more shy when it comes to reading," she says. "They just need to build that confidence. Reading to a shelter pet really helps because our pets don't judge us."
The shelter worked with the non-profit, Friends of Rescue Animals, to set up "Reading to Pets." More information is available here.
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