It’s 3 p.m. at Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS), and Hopper is waiting by the door. The sweet pup spends his days waiting in his kennel, hoping for the day he’ll find a loving family. But today, something special is about to happen: A familiar volunteer is coming in to read him a book.
Hopper’s tail wags with excitement. While he’s well-loved by his caregivers, there’s something magical about the visitors who come in with books. When 9-year-old Nehemiah walks into the room, Hopper’s joy is clear — his tail wags furiously, eager to greet his friend.
A New Level of Calm
Hopper is known for his energetic and playful nature, especially in his kennel, but when it’s storytime with volunteers like Nehemiah, he transforms. Rather than bounding around, Hopper sits quietly, gazing at the volunteers as 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,” 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.”
The Power of Storytime
Nehemiah, who dedicates 30 minutes to each pup as part of the Pawsitive Readers program, notices a marked change in Hopper’s behavior when a book is involved.
“Hopper is a super sweet boy with plenty of energy,” said Nehemiah’s grandmother, Joanna McKenzie. “Reading seems to calm him down.”
But Hopper doesn’t just sit and listen — he adds his flair to storytime.
“He likes to join in on story time by barking his tales, too!” Ahnen said.
A Hopeful Future
While Nehemiah enjoys reading to Hopper, he’s eager for the pup to find a forever home. Understanding the challenges of life in a shelter, Nehemiah does his part by reading to the dogs 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!”
The dogs at JHS are incredibly thankful for volunteers like Nehemiah and the reading sessions they provide.
“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.”
Hopper’s Future Family
If there was ever any doubt about the effectiveness of programs like JHS’s Pawsitive Readers, Hopper is living proof. He thrives during storytime, and his caregivers are confident that he will do wonderfully in a permanent home with loving parents.
“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.”
A Bright Future Ahead
Thanks to a foundation called Dolly’s Dream, which has sponsored Hopper’s adoption, the only thing left to do is find his perfect match. Until then, this sweet boy’s fun and playful personality will continue to bring joy to the halls of JHS.
Many of the dogs Nehemiah has read to, like Auggie, Mikey, Diamond, Hallmark, and Sandwich, have since found their forever homes. Nehemiah hopes Hopper will soon be added to the list, but for now, he’s cherishing every moment with his furry friend.
“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 community!”