Some if not all of the dogs that reside in a shelter for any period of time, are normally there through no fault of their own, but the reason they are there may have had a profound effect on them. If they have been badly treated or neglected by the previous owners, their trust of humans will be much lower than a normal dog, and of course, a dog who doesn’t bound forward with enthusiasm to greet potential new owners is even less likely to get chosen. These dogs then get stuck in a perpetual circle of further pain and disappointment, stuck in a cage where they are unhappy.
The Shelter Buddies Reading Program at the Humane Society of Missouri is an innovative idea, designed to counteract these problems and try and bring the dog and its confidence and trust back to normal levels. By encouraging children from the age of 6 to 15 to read to and observe the dogs the animals can start to build up a little piece of trust towards the kids. As this trust grows it is reinforced by the giving of tips and praise etc with the final aim being to help the dog’s to find their forever home. This is a brilliant initiative and one I feel could be introduced worldwide, as I am certain the kids benefit as well.