“Kiddies 2 Kitties Socializes Cats, Encourages Kids to Read,” by reporter Melissa McKenzie, is a featured front-page article in the Santa Clara Weekly’s March 31–April 6 edition. McKenzie interviewed SVACA’s Outreach Coordinator Janet Alexander and PAHS’ Education Manager Leonor Delgado about the origin and history of this shelter-based reading program and its ongoing success.
Since its inception at SVACA more than two years ago, Kiddies 2 Kitties has expanded from attracting readers in the early elementary grades to including larger groups of visitors to the shelter who want to find out about shelter operations as well as practice reading aloud to the cats and kittens. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have participated to earn badges about animals, and older students in middle school and high school have completed community service hours. Everyone has learned about cats, their likes and dislikes, and how best to socialize them, and many participants have returned on numerous occasions. As Janet said, the program is a win-win for everyone involved, students and cats alike!
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Click here for a description of the program.
