By bringing the readers to our shelter, our adoptable cats and dogs get to benefit from the positive presence of a child, boosting confidence in both the pet and the person. This in-shelter reading program is open to youth ages 6-13, and visits take place on Wednesday afternoons between 4pm and 5pm (beginning in October). Reading time is limited to 20 minutes.
Visits can be scheduled in advance, and children are invited to bring their own books or choose from the VBSPCA Library.
To reserve a space for your child, select either the cattery or kennel when you make your donation. We ask for a minimum donation of $7.
Children cannot be left unattended under any circumstances, whether in the cattery, kennel or elsewhere in the shelter. Adults must remain present with their children at all times to ensure both safety and a positive experience for everyone.
Please note, if you have more than 1 child "reader" in your party, you will need to register each child separately. Each child must have an adult stay with them during their visit. If there are two children reading and only one adult attending, both children must read to the same animal. Max capacity is two children and one adult per reading space. Due to space limitations, we kindly ask that only the registered child and their accompanying adult attend the reading session. Any children not registered through Eventbrite will not be able to attend.
Please arrive between 4:00pm and 4:30pm to ensure a full reading experience with a shelter animal. Please note that we are unable to accomodate late arrivals after 4:30pm.
