The Animal Humane Society is always looking for volunteers ages 16 and up and helping in an animal shelter can be a great experience for teens. Younger children can connect with shelter animals, too, through the Animal Humane Society’s Rescue Readers program. This popular program lets children ages 6 and up regularly read to shelter animals after attending an orientation. “It’s a great way for kids to build reading skills with a non-judgmental listener,” says Zack Nugent with the Animal Humane Society. Rescue Readers also serves as “auditory enrichment for the animal being read to,” he explains. A child’s voice can be soothing and stress relieving to an animal living in a place where there are so many different noises, smells and changes going on.
Also, online registration for summer camps opens mid-February for the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley. These one-week day camps for kids in grade school through middle school are a lot of fun. Participants learn about the shelter environment and what animal care workers do. They’ll learn about animal welfare, how to approach and meet new animals and all about animal care. Service projects like making toys and treats are also part of the fun. Visit their website to see all of the opportunities available for children and families to learn about holistic approaches to animal welfare and what it takes to get shelter animals into loving homes.
