Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of Missouri
Kids read to a shelter dog at last year's Deck the Howls event.
This Friday, kiddos can bring some holiday cheer to the adoptable pets at the Humane Society of Missouri.
The Deck the Howls event returns for a second year December 2 from 5–7 p.m. Kiddos ages 5–11 are invited to help decorate the Macklind location's digs, read to the adoptable pets by candlelight, decorate treats—donated by Treats Unleashed—with yogurt icing, make fleece blankets and pillows for dogs and snowman socks toys for cats, and more.
"We wanted to add some holiday cheer and joy to our shelter," says JoEllyn Klepacki, Director of Education at the Humane Society. "We thought who better to do that than kids? They're so full of enthusiasm and excitement, especially around the holidays."
Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas and bring their favorite holiday book (there will also be books available at the event). The wings of the adoption center will be decorated with white lights. Kids can also interact with the Humane Society's classroom pets, including guinea pigs and a chincilla.
The Deck the Howls event is a part of the humane society's Shelter Buddies Reading Program, which allows kids ages 6–15 to read to dogs and cats as a way to bring comfort and reduce anxiety for the shelter pets.
One shelter supervisor told Klepacki about a cat who had been on the adoption floor for more than a month and had grown despondent. The cat slept all day in the back of his cage.
"When this child just sat there, on a chair right in front of his cage, and was reading to him calmly, he came up to the front, stretched, and started rubbing his face against the front of the bars like 'I'm glad you're here' and was purring," Klepacki says. "[The supervisor said] that was the first time she'd really seen him interact with a visitor."
Volunteers for the program can sign up online for an upcoming, 90-minute training session. One parent is required to attend, and kids will learn objectives, what it means to be a shelter buddy, and how their body language and behavior affects the animals. Volunteers can then schedule a time to read to the animals.
"We want to make it easy for them to just come by if they have 30 minutes or an hour," Klepacki says.
The program aims to build confidence in shelter animals. Klepacki says research shows that animals that approach the cage front to greet visitors and potential adopters are more likely to get adopted than those that are fearful or hiding in the back. Meanwhile, kids develop their reading skills, build empathy for others, and connect with the animals.
"It's mutually beneficial for everybody involved," Klepacki says.
Deck the Howls will take place Friday, December 2 from 5-7 p.m. at the Humane Society of Missouri (1201 Macklind). Register for the event here.
