Pawsitive Reading – a program in which children visit the shelter to read to the pets – is designed to provide enrichment for kids, dogs, and cats. Believe it or not, just listening to a person reading out loud has been proven to lower stress levels in animals! Pawsitive Reading is also a great way for kids to work on their literacy skills in a safe, fun environment.
Generously sponsored by:
In order to join the Pawsitive Reading program, children AND at least one parent/guardian must first attend a one-time Pawsitive Reading orientation. We offer several orientations each month. Upcoming orientation dates and sign-up links are below. Advance registration is required.
At this time, registration for November orientations is open. When registration for November is full, please check back later for December orientation dates.
Thursday, November 5, 2026 @ 5:00pm – This session is full
Thursday, November 19, 2026 @ 5:00pm – Register now
Friday, November 20, 2026 @ 5:00pm – This session is full
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 @ 5:00pm – Register now – Space is limited
Orientations will take place in either the JHS Education Center or Conference Room (both are located upstairs, above the Adoption Center). Our address is 8464 Beach Blvd. Please arrive on time. The orientation will be around 40 minutes in length.
After attending an orientation, children and an adult chaperone may come to JHS to read to the animals anytime our Adoption Center is open (12pm-7pm on weekdays, 10am-5pm on weekends). Participants must sign in and out at the front desk when visiting JHS to read.
To ensure that our animals benefit from the program, we ask that readers spend at least 30 minutes reading – there is no maximum time limit.
Children may read to either dogs or cats and may bring their reading materials or borrow books from our Pawsitive Reading library.
Participants will receive a free book courtesy of The Jim Moran Foundation while supplies are available.
If you work with a group of children/students who are interested in joining the Pawsitive Reading program together – for example, a Scout troop, homeschool group, or club – we can schedule an orientation just for your group depending on our availability. Please email us at [email protected] about this possibility! We require a minimum of 10 children to facilitate a private Pawsitive Reading orientation.
Who can participate?Children of all ages can participate in Pawsitive Reading. Pawsitive Readers must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or other adult chaperone while volunteering at JHS.
Studies have shown that listening to a person reading out loud lowers stress levels in animals and helps them feel more relaxed! How cool is that? Shelters can be scary, stressful places for many pets, so here at JHS we try to do everything we can to help the dogs and cats feel as calm and happy as possible while they’re with us. Pawsitive Reading is a big part of that!
Pawsitive Reading also helps our animals feel more comfortable and confident around people. This will eventually help them in their new homes or around potential adopters!
This program also benefits the children involved, as it allows them to practice their reading while in a safe and fun environment. Reading out loud to our dogs and cats can boost kids’ literacy skills, as many children feel much more comfortable reading out loud to animals (as opposed to a teacher, parent, etc.).
Research from Tufts University in 2017 found that children who read aloud to dogs “demonstrated improved attitudes about reading.” A similar study conducted by the University of California, Davis in 2010 revealed that young students’ “reading fluency improved by 12 percent” after spending time reading out loud to animals.
Pawsitive Reading is also a wonderful way for kids to get involved in their community and help homeless animals in need.
Yes, absolutely! Many of our current Pawsitive Readers joined the program to earn volunteer hours for school or other programs. We track all of our readers’ reading hours and are happy to verify service when needed.
If you work with a group of children/students who are interested in joining the Pawsitive Reading program together – for example, a Scout troop, homeschool group, or club – we can schedule an orientation just for your group depending on our availability. Please email us at [email protected] about this possibility!
Through our popular Pawsitive Reading program, young readers build literacy skills, confidence, and a love of books while helping shelter animals feel more calm and relaxed in their kennels.
Now we’re inviting young artists in grades K-12 to help us create a bookmark that celebrates the joy of reading and the special bond between people and animals!
Contest rules:
1. Download our 2027 Bookmark Design Contest entry form and use the provided template to design your bookmark.
2. You can use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or pen to create your design.
3. Your design can be vertical or horizontal.
4. Your bookmark must celebrate reading, dogs, and cats. Please do not include other types of animals in your design.
5. One entry per person.
How to enter:
1. Scan your completed 2027 Bookmark Design Contest entry form and email it to us at [email protected].
2. If you are unable to send us your design digitally, you can mail it to us at:
Jacksonville Humane Society
Attn: Education Department
8464 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32216
3. If none of these options work, you can email us at [email protected] to coordinate in-person drop off.
4. The deadline to enter is November 12, 2026. All entries must be received by 11:59pm ET on November 12 in order to be considered.
Judges will select 1 winning bookmark from each of the following grade groups: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12.
Winners will be notified via email or phone.
All entries become the property of the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) and will not be returned. Winning bookmarks will be printed and distributed by JHS. Artist’s name (first and last) and age will appear on the bookmark. Each winner will also receive a book bundle courtesy of The Jim Moran Foundation.
We can’t wait to see what you create!
If you have any questions about this contest, please email our Humane Education team at [email protected] or call 904.493.4609.
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