Families gathered outside kennel doors at Animal Friends of the Valleys on April 29, reading aloud to shelter dogs waiting for homes.
Animal Friends of the Valleys, based in Wildomar, also serves Lake Elsinore, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Canyon Lake. Its weekly Rascal’s Readers program invites community members into the shelter to practice reading while offering comfort to the animals.
“The goal of reading to shelter pets is it reduces kennel stress,” said volunteer coordinator Cyndi Becker. “They see people walking by, walking by, and then somebody takes a minute and sits down. They come right up to the door and they’ll lay down and just be relaxed.”
The program runs every Wednesday from 3-4:30 p.m. Participants first check in at the classroom, where they grab a book and small mat. They are then free to move through the shelter and choose dogs to read to.
Some readers said they were surprised by how the dogs responded.
“They were actually listening,” said first-time participant Jimena, 9. “They got super, super excited.”
For many kids, the connection with the dogs is what stands out.
“I just love when you sit down and you’re reading to them and they come up to you and then they start to trust you,” said Alana, 11.
Alana said she has been attending the program for several years.
“We just started coming and falling in love with the dogs,” she said. “So we just kept coming.”
In addition to reading time, the program also rotates in crafts and informational lessons. Crafts include activities like coloring bookmarks, while the informational lessons focus on pet care and services the shelter offers. Sometimes, dog walkers will come in for the program to give training exhibitions while also bringing in shelter dogs so families can interact with them.
The program has evolved over time. It was originally known as Huey’s Heroes and run by the Saving Huey Foundation, an animal rescue and rehabilitation organization.
“Some things have happened that caused them to unfortunately decide that they needed to stop the program,” Becker said. “Not all together, but here at the shelter. Our chief here, Chief Middleton, wanted to continue on with this reading program because we thought it was beneficial for the kids and shelter, and it’s just a lot of fun for everybody.”
About a year ago, the program was revived under the name Rascal’s Readers, an ode to the shelter mascot named Rascal, with Becker volunteering to help run it.
The program is designed not only to improve literacy skills and comfort animals, but also to encourage kids to keep reading. Participants can earn incentives through the program. After 10 visits of reading for 30 minutes, they receive a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card to buy their own books.
“We want to show our appreciation as much as possible,” Becker said. “They’re doing this wonderful thing for our shelter. And we hope, in the long run, that this results in more dogs getting adopted.”
Becker said she has seen families return to adopt dogs they first met during the program.
“We’ve had several instances where I’ve been working on a Saturday and I’ll see somebody that I know from readers, and I go, ‘What are you doing?’ And they go, ‘We’re adopting so-and-so today,” she said. “So it does happen.”
Participation varies week to week, but Becker said the turnout has been steady. Oftentimes, school groups and community organizations take part in the program.
One reader, 8-year-old Juliette, attended the program with members of her Girl Scout troop.
When asked why she was excited to participate in Rascal’s Readers, Juliette said, “Because I love dogs and they’re cute.”
Becker said that kind of community involvement is an important part of the program.
“We appreciate everybody that comes,” she said. “We understand kids have got a lot going on and they’re very active with busy lives. Parents have busy lives, grandparents, guardians, whoever’s bringing them in. So, whenever you can get here, get here. We’re happy to have you.”
In addition to reading time, the program also rotates in crafts and informational lessons. Crafts include activities like coloring bookmarks, while the informational lessons focus on pet care and services the shelter offers. Sometimes, dog walkers will come in for the program to give training exhibitions while also bringing in shelter dogs so families can interact with them.
The program has evolved over time. It was originally known as Huey’s Heroes and run by the Saving Huey Foundation, an animal rescue and rehabilitation organization.
“Some things have happened that caused them to unfortunately decide that they needed to stop the program,” Becker said. “Not all together, but here at the shelter. Our chief here, Chief Middleton, wanted to continue on with this reading program because we thought it was beneficial for the kids and shelter, and it’s just a lot of fun for everybody.”
About a year ago, the program was revived under the name Rascal’s Readers, an ode to the shelter mascot named Rascal, with Becker volunteering to help run it.
The program is designed not only to improve literacy skills and comfort animals, but also to encourage kids to keep reading. Participants can earn incentives through the program. After 10 visits of reading for 30 minutes, they receive a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card to buy their own books.
“We want to show our appreciation as much as possible,” Becker said. “They’re doing this wonderful thing for our shelter. And we hope, in the long run, that this results in more dogs getting adopted.”
Becker said she has seen families return to adopt dogs they first met during the program.
“We’ve had several instances where I’ve been working on a Saturday and I’ll see somebody that I know from readers, and I go, ‘What are you doing?’ And they go, ‘We’re adopting so-and-so today,” she said. “So it does happen.”
Participation varies week to week, but Becker said the turnout has been steady. Oftentimes, school groups and community organizations take part in the program.
One reader, 8-year-old Juliette, attended the program with members of her Girl Scout troop.
When asked why she was excited to participate in Rascal’s Readers, Juliette said, “Because I love dogs and they’re cute.”
Becker said that kind of community involvement is an important part of the program.
“We appreciate everybody that comes,” she said. “We understand kids have got a lot going on and they’re very active with busy lives. Parents have busy lives, grandparents, guardians, whoever’s bringing them in. So, whenever you can get here, get here. We’re happy to have you.”
