What is the Telling Tails Reading Program?
San Bernardino County Animal Care has partnered with San Bernardino County Library to launch the Telling Tails Reading Program, designed for children ages 6 to 14. This special program offers your child the opportunity to read to our adorable furry friends who are waiting for their forever homes. It’s a fun and rewarding way to provide enrichment for our pets while helping your child build confidence and improve their reading skills.
What are the program requirements?
- Ages: Children ages 6 to 14
- Time Commitment: One hour per week
- Parent/Guardian: A parent or guardian must be present at all times
Join us today and help make a difference for pets and children alike!
FAQ
Studies have shown that reading to shelter pets offers great benefits for them. It provides a calming, non-invasive opportunity for them to interact socially with people. Reading to pets also helps children develop empathy and compassion towards pets. This is your opportunity to help shelter pets who are waiting to find their forever best friend.
We offer a curated selection of books in our small library, and we encourage readers to bring their own books from home as well. Additionally, participants are welcome to visit any San Bernardino County Library to choose books they can bring back, share with their favorite adoptable pets, and enjoy together. Whether you’re looking for familiar favorites, new adventures, or exciting stories to explore, these options are a great way to connect with pets through the joy of reading.
Yes, of course! Your child is welcome to attend the program as many times as they would like as long as they have successfully registered for a session.
You will receive a confirmation email with your registered date and time. It is important to keep in mind up to 5 readers may be scheduled per session.
Registration is required. If the desired date/time has reached maximum capacity, you will receive an email with alternative date/times to choose from. If a cancellation is made for the desired time slot, our registration system will update accordingly.
Participants will not be able to pet or touch any of the adoptable pets to ensure the safety of both the readers and the pets. The purpose of this program is to help shelter pets feel more comfortable in the shelter and is not designed to have participants interact directly with shelter pets.
If you can no longer make it to your scheduled reading session, please contact us at sbcacreadingprogram@gmail.com. This allows us to open up your slot for others who are interested in participating. Timely notification ensures that we can accommodate as many participants as possible.
Reading sessions are every Wednesday from 4 – 5 p.m.