It’s his favorite time of day ❤️
It’s 3 p.m. at Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS), and Hopper has his eyes fixed on the door. The sweet pup spends most of his days waiting in his kennel for someone to adopt him, but he knows that’s about to change for a bit: A familiar volunteer is about to walk in to read him a book.
Hopper can’t contain his excitement. As much affection as he receives from his caregivers at the shelter, there’s something special about the visitors who walk in with books. When 9-year-old Nehemiah enters the room, Hopper’s tail whips excitedly back and forth — he’s so happy to see his friend again.
Joanna McKenzie
Hopper is known for being rambunctious in his kennel, but reading sessions with volunteers like Nehemiah change his demeanor entirely. Instead of bouncing around the kennel, Hopper sits calmly in front of the glass and smiles at the volunteers while they read.
“Hopper is generally an active boy in his kennel, but when someone like Nehemiah comes to read to him, he becomes very attentive to them,” Samantha Ahnen, JHS’s community engagement manager, told The Dodo. “He enjoys sitting right against the window across from where they are sitting and enjoys their company.”
Joanna McKenzie
Even Nehemiah, who spends 30 minutes with each pup as part of the shelter’s Pawsitive Readers program, notices a difference in Hopper’s behavior when a book is involved.
“Hopper is a super sweet boy [with] plenty of energy,” Joanna McKenzie, Nehemiah’s grandmother, told The Dodo. “Reading seems to calm him down.”
But Hopper doesn’t always just sit and listen to the story; he sometimes adds to it.
“He likes to join in on story time by barking his own tales, too!” Ahnen said.
Jacksonville Humane Society
While Nehemiah loves reading to Hopper, he wishes the adorable pup would find a permanent home soon. The elementary school student knows how tough it can be for a dog living in a shelter, so he does his part to ease their anxiety by reading to them multiple times a week.
“He knows his reading is providing comfort to the dogs and helping his grades,” McKenzie said. “He loves the involvement, and he gets excited when the dogs get adopted!”
And the pups at JHS are just as grateful for Nehemiah and his fellow volunteers’ reading sessions.
“Studies have shown that listening to a person reading out loud lowers stress levels in animals and helps them feel more relaxed,” Ahnen said. “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 as possible while they’re with us.”
Joanna McKenzie
If there is any doubt that programs like JHS’s Pawisitive Readers help keep shelter animals calm, Hopper is living proof. He thrives from being read to, and his caregivers know he will do great in a permanent home with loving parents one day.
“Hopper will be happiest in a home where he is the only dog and can get all the love and attention!” Ahnen said. “He’s looking for a family who will be patient and gentle with him, allowing him to open up in his own time. Once you become Hopper’s BFF (and it doesn’t take long!), he is the most loyal and loving dog.”
Jacksonville Humane Society
Thanks to a foundation called Dolly’s Dream, who’ve sponsored Hopper’s adoption, all there’s left to do is find his perfect match. Until then, the sweet boy’s fun and playful personality will continue to light up the halls at JHS.
There are many dogs Nehemiah’s read to who’ve since been adopted, like Auggie, Mikey, Diamond, Hallmark and Sandwich. He hopes Hopper will soon be added to the list, but in the meantime, he’s thoroughly enjoying their reading sessions.
“This program is a win-win for the animals at our shelter and the generous folks who volunteer their time to read,” Ahnen said. “We highly encourage folks to look into reading programs at their local shelters. Many shelters across the U.S. have programs similar to ours, and it is a great way to support animals in your own community!”
You can inquire about adopting Hopper here.
To help pets like Hopper get the care they need, you can donate to Jacksonville Humane Society here.
