11-Year-Old Boy Reads to Shelter Dogs to Help Them Get Adopted

• Eleven-year-old Evan Bisnauth likes visiting animal shelters to read to dogs.
• The young New Yorker believes that reading to dogs help them to socialize and that could increase their chances in getting adopted.
• Evan said “shelter dogs are not bad dogs. They are just looking for good people.”

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Evan Bisnauth of Bronx, New York loves to read to shelter dogs. The 11-year-old said that by reading to them regularly, they can help them socialize and eventually, get adopted.

“I actually first read to my own dog when I was learning to read and write in school,” Evan told TODAY Parents.

Always eager to help animals in need, Evan also creates amusing animations of Animal Care Centers of NYC’s adoptable animals to help them get attention so they ultimately can be placed in safe and loving homes.

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“During COVID, I was not able to go in person and I needed to find a fun way to showcase the dogs and put them in a positive light,” Evan explained. “I started animating them doing all the fun things dogs like to do to get people to picture them as a part of their family.”

His dedication has not gone unnoticed. Evan just got named the ASPCA’s Kid of the Year.

“Our 2021 ASPCA Humane Award winners represent the best of us — heroic people and organizations dedicated to helping vulnerable animals, and amazing animals who demonstrate the invaluable love and comfort they’re capable of providing,” Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the ASPCA, said in a release about the awards.

For Evan, the award is a great honor, but it’s just the beginning.

“It makes me feel really good … but it also makes me want to do so much more,” he shared.

Evan said his favorite story to read to the dogs is the children’s book “Belly Rubbins for Bubbins,” written by Jason Kraus and illustrated by Connor DeHaan.

“The story is about a dog that was placed into the shelter and got adopted,” Evan said. “I like reading that to the dogs because when I’m done reading the book I’m like, ‘You will get adopted. Now I have hope for you.’”

Evan’s mom, Amanda Persaud, told TODAY that seeing her son honored for his work is gratifying as a parent.

Persaud noted that her son tries to target shelter dogs that are in greatest need of immediate placement.

“He goes and he’s very patient. He’s very calm,” she said. “He sits there, even though they’re barking at him in his face, he’s just going to sit there and be like, ‘I know. I know it’s hard. But I’m here. And if you want to hear a story, you’re going to have to be quiet.’”

Evan said he wants people to know that “shelter dogs are not bad dogs. They are just looking for good people.”

He also encourages kids out there that “you are never too small to make big changes.”

Bless you, Evan!

Source: TODAY