Reading to Animals in Need
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a new partnership with our friends at The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria this spring.
The beloved Book Buddies program at the AWLA cultivates a love of reading and animals in kids, a cause we can certainly get behind! Our shop is honored to have provided new books and funding to keep this wonderful program going. Read on for more about Book Buddies, and how you can get involved! Come out to the bookstore on Sunday, May 4th from 9:30 - 11:30 am to meet adoptable animals and read aloud! - Ally
OTB: Can you tell me some about the AWLA, and the Book Buddies program?
AWLA: The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is on a mission to inspire compassion for all living beings, to provide shelter to animals in need, and to promote adoptions, animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in our community.
We believe it is important to instill knowledge about and a compassion for animals from the earliest ages. With our community and in-shelter humane education programs, we offer a variety of opportunities to engage with — and often learn from — Alexandria’s youngest animal-lovers.
Through Book Buddies, a program for students in grades 3 through 12, kids are invited to participate in 30- minute Book Buddy reading sessions with adoptable cats and small animals on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. A parent or guardian is required to accompany their child to a reading session. Children are able to choose a book from AWLA’s selection of stories or bring one of their own.
The program is run by the youth services team at the AWLA. Folks interested in getting more information can reach out to youthprograms@alexandriaanimals.org.
OTB: How long has the program been running, and what has been the community response?
AWLA: The Book Buddies program has been running for nearly ten years. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Kids get more comfortable with reading and reading aloud particularly. They learn how to properly interact with animals. And they gain a sense of pride in helping care for an animal and in turn develop empathy for them.
OTB: That’s amazing, it sounds like a win-win situation! Does the Book Buddies Program help animals get adopted?
AWLA: It does! It gives animals more exposure to the public, which helps with socialization. Animals are more relaxed and become more socialized which helps them adapt to shelter life and become more “adoptable”.
OTB: That’s amazing. Thank you so much for running this program, and for all the work you do with animals in our community.
Join us on Sunday, May 4th from 9:30-11:30 am to meet adoptable animals at the bookstore! The AWLA will be on site with some Book Buddies ready to read!
Young volunteers practicing reading aloud - and providing companionship for adoptable animals.
The little paw being held!