Storytellers wanted â€“ to read to dogs

Finance | 18 Mar 2009

Sales of comic strip Peanuts, featuring the dog Snoopy and the 1940 classic Lassie Come Home, look set to rocket with a RSPCA shelter in Radcliffe-on-Trent seeking volunteers to read to dogs.

As well as keeping them relaxed and calm, reading also helps to get the animals used to human company, making it easier to find them homes.

Volunteers will be given training on reading to the dogs, ensuring they use a soothing tone of voice.

There are no restrictions on what they can read, “within reason”.

Assistant manager Ella Herring said: “People will think it’s quite bizarre and unusual but I think obviously once they understand why we’re doing it and the benefits the dogs are getting out of it, then people will come forward and want to do it.”

The shelter hopes all 50 of its dogs will benefit from the “read and relax” sessions which will also feature the use of diluted aromatherapy oils to stimulate the dogs’ senses.

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