Started by George Street Normal School pupil Mackenzie Fairmaid-Shevloff (7), she said the project was inspired by similar initiatives in the United States, which involved people - mainly children - going along to their local animal shelter and reading books to the animals.
``Some animals, they're just not treated well [by] humans . . . and then they're just really afraid, so reading helps calm them down.''
Mackenzie said she had been reading to one of the dogs, who had fallen asleep while she was reading a book - but when she switched to reading Harry Potter, he sat up, looking alert.
SPCA Otago volunteer co-ordinator Michelle Blair said they had done the programme once so far, and had had 11 children - from George Street Normal School and Maori Hill School - turn up.
``So it's a win-win for us. What the animals get out of it, it's great.''
While the dogs remained in their cages, with readers sitting in the entranceway of the enclosure, the loose cat house allowed the cats to roam around while the children were reading to them.
Ms Blair said it was a ``win-win'' for both the animals, who would increase in confidence around people - especially children - and the children, who got to practise their reading.
The children were aged from 4 to 10 years old.
How to donate
ONLINE
Make a one-off donation with your credit card by visiting www.spcaotago.org.nz
Donate by internet banking to the SPCA Otago bank account 06-0594-0020841-30
Donate via the Givealittle page www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/spcaotagofacility
BY PHONE
Phone the office on 473-8252 ext 205 on weekdays to make a credit card donation.
IN PERSON
Call in at the SPCA Otago centre, 1 Torridon St, Opoho, from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on Saturday.
BY CHEQUE
Please make cheques payable to SPCA Otago and post to: FreePost 247533, SPCA Otago, PO Box 8018, Dunedin 9041.
- Greta Yeoman
