Children who read illustrated books to abandoned dogs, a poetic parenthesis that is an example for everyone

“It snowed that night”the little girl reads from a picture book. The dog looks a little puzzled but keeps his eyes on the book. The little girl is sitting on the floor, the dog is inside his box in the Missouri shelter for abandoned dogs. Between them there is glass, but also something extremely poetic. The Shelter Buddies Reading Program from the Human Society of MissouriIt’s a generous and kind idea, a fairytale idea: involve children as little readers of illustrated stories (in which dogs and animals are the protagonists) to entertain the abandoned dogs hosted at the shelter.

A way to bring the shyest and most fearful dogs closer to childrento make friends and perhaps, in the future, become one family. A gentle and practical way for children to learn caringto feel that on the other side of the glass there is someone who perhaps doesn’t look the same, but who has the same needs as them, who wants to feel sharing and affection, a being with whom to establish a bond.

In a world where violence and oppression (towards people and animals) is taking over amidst everyone’s general indifference, the Missouri shelter project is a breath of fresh air, a moment of poetry that takes back the reins of humanity. An idea that could perhaps be taken up in Italy or expressed in another way.

The program allows everyone children and teenagers between 6 and 15 years old to participate. All you need to do is participate – one-off – in a 90-minute preparatory meeting, and then become little volunteer readers. You can go to the shelter as much as you want during reading hours and any day of the weekyou can read as much as you want, you can bring your favorite book, or take one from the library of over 100 illustrated books, all with animal protagonists.