All ears: Students read to animals at local Humane Society

Nine-year-old Ilena Wilson carried a book in her arms as she waited with 12 other Prodigy Leadership Academy classmates in the lobby of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

The book title, "Please Don't Eat the Children," betrayed the smile on her face.

She didn't appear worried, and the nameless pit bull in Cage O to whom she soon would be reading the words of author Dan Greenburg would not change that disposition.

In fact, she smiled all the more when she took a break from reading to the female, whom she said looked like a "Stella," and put her hand up to the cage.

"It tickles when she licks me," Ilena said giddily.

Anna Claire Jones, left, Addie Long, center, and John Henry Jones read to cats in the cat room on Thursday at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. Students from Prodigy Leadership Academy read to the dogs and cats at the shelter on a weekly basis.Laura Simon

Seated in the narrow walkway behind Ilena was fellow third-grader Isabel Jones, who was nose-to-nose with Tucker, a large black mix with a strong touch of German shepherd.

"He's so cute, he keeps licking my hands," Isabel said.

It could have been that Tucker was wetting Isabel's fingers, assisting her in turning the pages to "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down," of which she was on page 25.

"I just love cats, but don't say that around him," Isabel said. "I like Tucker. He's probably the only dog I like here."

It was clear this was a win-win situation for both animals and students, who began weekly visits to read out loud to the cats and dogs near the end of last school year.

"I think it's a trend across the country," said Charlotte Craig, board president of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Craig said she was skeptical when the Humane Society initially agreed to the program after Prodigy representatives approached the organization.

"I was the naysayer," Craig said. "I thought this won't go. We're too small, there's no space, and it's caught on like wildfire. The children enjoy, and dogs, and cats especially."

Prodigy teacher Jessica Pederson said a parent sent her an online link to an article on the subject last year, prompting her to check into the possibility of such a program.

It was possible, and the school has been rotating two groups of students on Thursdays since. Pederson said it's among the school's classroom service projects.

"It's just so mutually beneficial," Pederson said. "There's positives for both ends, for the kids to learn how to serve animals and open their mind to that perspective."

The idea is to read to the animals, but camaraderie runs much deeper than words.

"I have a girl in there, and I don't know if she's read a whole lot because she's so busy petting the animal," Pederson said. "And that's fine, too. We're just here to give them a little love and attention and read in the process."

Channing Pattengill, a fourth-grader, was diligently abiding to the mission. He had read 31 pages of the "Incredible Twisting Arm" to Buster, a 2-year-old pit bull.

"I like taking care of the dogs and that they usually don't get to do this stuff very often, and then my teacher started it and I kind of liked it," Pattengill said. "They like to listen to us. If we get in here first and we start reading they'll be barking real loud, and then when we keep on reading they'll get quiet like right now."

In the earlier more raucous minutes, third-grader William Lewis was squatting while reading "The Hunger Games" to two dogs, snuggled into each other in the corner closest to him.

"It's not really the reading that excites, it's the dogs," William said. "It makes you kind of happy that they get enjoyment from getting somebody to sit beside them for a while."

While the chaos of barking nearly drowned out William, his two listeners looked like they were in the latter stage of a bedtime story.

"I've had tons of dogs that fall asleep when I read to them," William said. "One time there were three in each [cage], and then there was one over here and I just kept reading and reading, and I made all seven of them pass out," William said.

Meanwhile in the cat room, fourth-graders Addie Long and Anna Jones were more petters than readers, captivated with a playful black and white kitten.

While Addie had six dogs and a cat at home, Anna professed to be a cat person.

"Look at this gorgeous sweetie," Anna said. "Look at her! How can you not say no to that, or yes, or whatever."

It was apparent dogs, cats and children were all working their magic on one another, part of the therapeutic nature that Craig, seemingly at peace with the logistics, cited between humans and animals. She lauded the emotional and physical health benefits that animals provide, and the focus on children's reading skills while creating affection and awareness for homeless animals.

"It might even be developing future adopters or people who participate in the betterment of their community," Craig said.

Ones like fourth-grader Henry Jones, Isabel's older brother. He was reading "Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hard Luck" that apparently had knocked Poly and Sonic out cold.

Henry told about a memorable class trip he made last year, when he also read to two cats.

After making his wishes for a cat known at home, he didn't realize he was reading to family members -- Grandpa and Bubby.

"I said I wanted a cat, and then one time we went here and it said they were going home," Henry said. "And we were like, at least they get a home now."

His mom then told him about the home.

"My sister almost passed out," Henry said.

Sometimes there's homework.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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