If you are a bookworm, yourself, then you know how much joy books can bring.
Immersing yourself in that world between the covers can be one of the most magical experiences ever. But, did you know that dogs can get that feeling, too?
Yup, you heard that right! Hidden in a kennel at Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) is a pup named Hopper who keeps staring at the door whenever the clock strikes 3. Now, you may think that he is waiting for potential adopters, which also may be the case, but he is also looking out for a well-known friend.
Hopper, The Happy Pup
Every day, at 3 p.m., a 9-year-old Nehemiah enters Jacksonville humane with one mission – to read a book. And, as soon as Hopper sees his face, he gets so excited that his tail begins whipping back and forth!
Even though he tends to be pretty hyperactive in his kennel, Hopper completely transforms when Nehemiah pulls out one of his interesting books. He goes from a pup who bounces around the place to a good boy who calmly sits and smiles at the volunteer.
“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. He enjoys sitting right against the window across from where they are sitting and enjoys their company,” Samantha Ahnen, JHS’s community engagement manager, told The Dodo.
Nehemiah spends 30 minutes reading to every pup in the shelter as part of the shelter’s Pawsitive Readers program, and even he notices a difference in Hooper’s behavior whenever he sees a book.
“Hopper is a super sweet boy [with] plenty of energy. Reading seems to calm him down,” Joanna McKenzie, Nehemiah’s grandmother.
However, sometimes Hopper decides that listening isn’t enough so he begins adding his own parts to the story by barking!
A Story A Day Keeps The Sadness Away
Even though Nehemiah loves reading stories to his furry friends, he would love it more if all of them were in a home of their own. So, in order to keep their anxiety levels low, he spends time with them and his books.
“He knows his reading is providing comfort to the dogs and helping his grades. He loves the involvement, and he gets excited when the dogs get adopted!” McKenzie said.
Adhen also pointed out how good this was for the well-being of the pups.
“Studies have shown that listening to a person reading out loud lowers stress levels in animals and helps them feel more relaxed. 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,” Ahnen said.
Hopper, the pup, is living proof that projects such as this one help animals feel better while they wait for a second chance at life. And, since a loving foundation called Dolly’s Dream covered his adoption fees, the only thing left is to pick up this sweet boy.
He would absolutely thrive in a home where he is the only fur baby so that he could soak up all the love and attention.
“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,” Ahnen said.
Therefore, if you are a bookworm looking for a companion so that you can form a book club, look no further – Hopper is happily waiting for your application.
And, if you work at a shelter and have some anxious fur babes, consider reading them a little story!
“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!” Ahnen concluded.
