WEST SENECA, N.Y. — “We read to know we are not alone.”

C.S. Lewis, the British author most famous for writing "The Chronicles of Narnia," once said that.

There’s a unique program underway where kids are letting adoptable animals know they’re not alone.

The program is called Tale for Two. It’s offered year-round at the SPCA Serving Erie County.

There’s a lot more to this than opening a book. There's also a student and a dog.

What You Need To Know

  • Tale for Two allows kids to practice their reading skills in front of a non-judgmental audience  

  • Sessions are 30 minutes 

  • Animals learn how to build trust and new relationships 

“Can barely hear yourself, but that's what makes it fun,” Ava DeFazio, a volunteer student reader laughed.

DeFazio’s love for animals triumphs over the noise.

“It helps you bond, and if you’re stressed or something it always makes it better,” DeFazio said.

Her book of choice was “Because of Winn Dixie.”

“It describes a dog that is getting adopted; they thought they had no hope, but then someone came and adopted them,” DeFazio summarized.

Next to DeFazio is her friend Kaliana Krajewski. Her book of choice was “Room on the Broom.”

“It mentions dogs and cats, which is like the SPCA,” Krajewski smiled.

Christine Davis, the shelter's director of community education, talks about why the shelter hosts this program.

“Oh, there are a couple of benefits,” Davis smiled and said. “They have the opportunity to come and practice their reading skills. They are reading to a nonjudgmental audience, so the animals don't care if you mess up.”

The animals' interaction with people isn’t physical or forced. It’s helpful for Gotti, who Davis says is shy.

“What happens when you sit there and you're reading for 20 minutes, the dog will start to back and then it slowly comes out,” Davis explains. “It stops barking. Now you build in that trust.”

That’s what happened over the 30-minute session.

“We've had kids that did not want to read and they couldn't stop reading. Like they'd go home and they'll keep reading,” Davis said.

They tend to make a friend, too.

“I feel like it kind of heard me, but maybe it was just enjoying its food,” Krajewski said.

This Tale for Two program isn’t common, but the SPCA hopes to see it expand.