This is a great idea from a Pennsylvania rescue center: Animal Rescue League of Berks County. It places together children between the ages of 6 to 13 and rescue cats. The children read aloud to themselves and to the rescue cats and their voices and their company help the cats.
The rescue cats have the company of a person, which after all is what they are meant to have, and the children have the company of a cat which no doubt helps them feel better and more calm. At the same time they can practice their reading skills.
I am sure there is a lot of good supervision going on to make sure the child behaves appropriately and that the child likes cats. This experience is probably educational for the child. I suspect the cats are selected. That, by the way, if it is true, is perhaps a little unfortunate because the best cats are probably selected when the “bad cats” should be too. There may be a public relations exercise element to this. No matter, I still think it works well.
One of the biggest unavoidable failings of cat rescue centers is that the cats are kept in cages and have limited human contact. It can be stressful and the environment can lead to health and behavior problems which lessen the chance of being rehomed. This idea addresses some of these problems.
I am publishing one picture which was posted by a visitor to Reddit and which is on the igmur.com website. I am sure it is in the public domain because it has been widely circulated. It deserves to be because it is bloody marvellous.
This is the sort of thing we all like to see at rescue centers. Done properly, not only do cat and child benefit, the shelter will certainly benefit too through being able to rehome more cats and receive a lot of good publicity. Unfortunately the shelter has a very slow loading website at the moment. I believe that this is the web address (URL): www.berksarl.org/.
[Note: My thanks to DW for finding the photo.]
This is great! Dee, you are right on the money- not only are the cats getting the much needed attention to keep them happier, the kids are benefiting too. They are learning so much about kindness, gentleness and respect for animals.
Programs like these go a long way to help prevent animal cruelty. I hope that other shelters will follow suit.
I believe there is a lot room in the shelter system for imaginative ideas like this. A bit of a shake up might help and save some lives.
thanks im looking forward to it. Just gotta make sure they are up and running.
What a very touching photo!
This is a lovely idea, company for the cats and most love the sound of a human voice and the attention received probably makes them feel loved and valued.
Also good for the children to be with cats under supervision as they are sure to want to learn more about cats and this will also teach them how cats should be treated.
Just sitting talking to cats is a wonderful way to socialise them but a child reading to a cat is a bonus for that child’s education too 🙂
lovely story. im going to do some volounteer for our local spca once its running close to town. as i want to be able to give back to cats
You’ll love it Kylee and they’ll be lucky to have such a cat loving volunteer as you are. Good luck 🙂
yea ive just been waiting, as the place they used to have it at was too far from town. Best thing is i dont get to take the cats home. But can give them lots of cuddles and care.
Good for you Kylee. If it works out please tell us what it is like.
That sounds great Kylee – I really want to do that as well but there are no available jobs for volunteers here last time I checked. I think you pretty much have to know someone if you want to be able to work in a cat shelter. There aren’t many of them here. That’s a good thing because there isn’t such a need but it means I’m unable to volunteer.
We’d love to know how it is – maybe you could take a few pics with your phone while you are there 🙂
It is a very positive way to portray the rescue cat in a shelter. Do you remember the article I wrote some time ago about making shelter photography good? This is the best example I have seen. A big difference to scared cats in cages.
I support WWF and The Cats Protection, as they do brilliant work. I can only offer the minimum amount, I respect the work these organisations do and respect them. I just think they are brilliant.
Kindest regards
Samantha Martin XXXXXXXX
This rescue organization needs to be commended for fostering a progran that joins kids and cats. What better way for kids to learn kindness, gentleness, and love for cats.
This is new and, maybe, a kickstart for other groups.
Let’s spread the word.
I just love this.
Me too Dee. It looks wonderful. OK it probably needs to be done with care and control but the basic concept is imaginative and I would expect lots of good publicity for the rescue center and it so good for the rescue cat and cats generally. They look great in these photos.