“I read this one to Hazel, and she fell right asleep,” said Daniel* with great pride. Hazel is a cat in shelter at the SPCA. She is fortunate enough to have one of the children in care in Residential Services read her a bedtime story.
Daniel participated in a program at the SPCA called “A Tale for Two.” Each week over the summer, he read two books to the animals. This helped Daniel gain confidence in several ways – including his reading ability and how he is able to help others. “To see the boost in self-esteem is so amazing.” beamed Dana Szalay, Director of Residential Services at Child & Family Services. “It’s something that really motivates him. It makes him feel good about himself.”
Through programs like this, children in our care experience how they are an important part of their community, and Daniel’s kindness truly helps the animals in shelter. Christine Davis, Director of Humane Education at the SPCA explained, “The animals get the benefit of interacting with people without it being physical. We have some animals who are shy here at the shelter. We also have some animals that have seen many people come through and pet them, which makes them anxious. So, this is their opportunity to warm up to people or to relax at the end of the day.”
This is also a chance for children to build their literacy skills. The benefits of reading 20 minutes a day for a child include broadening imagination, expanding creativity, fostering empathy, improving writing skills, vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Daniel isn’t interested in all that because the animals have their own way of telling him he’s a success. Daniel said, “Listen! Hazel is purring. She likes me.” Now that says it all!
To learn more about this SPCA program, visit www.yourspca.org/news/talefortwo2122/
*Name changed to protect privacy and confidentiality