Zora Schaffer, a student from Edison Elementary School, read the picture book Dragons Love Tacos with her mother, Kate Schaffer, while petting Kentucky Fried Chicken, a cat available for adoption at Paws and Claws Cat Rescue on Wednesday evening. The mother-daughter pair were among approximately 30 community members who attended the Evanston Public Library’s “Read to Cats” event at the shelter.
“We enjoy reading and we love cats. We have a lot of cat-themed books at home, so we thought it would be fun to read to some cats,” said Kate Schaffer.
Wednesday marked the third event held by the library at Paws and Claws Cat Rescue. Robin Sindelar, a branch assistant at the Robert Crown Branch Library, explained that the event was designed for elementary school students, with the goal of bringing the community together and boosting childhood literacy.
Sindelar noted that the interest in the event exceeded the shelter’s capacity, resulting in a waitlist of around 25 families. She brought more than 20 cat-themed books from the library for the children to read aloud.
“The event helps children improve their reading skills because the cats don’t judge them,” said Sindelar. “It’s also important for the cats, as it helps them become more socialized.”
Ashlynn Boyce, Founder and Executive Director of Paws and Claws Cat Rescue, shared that the rescue’s tagline, “saving lives, building community,” reflects its mission to adopt out animals and host community events. The rescue currently cares for about 40 cats, all of which were brought in due to being at risk of euthanasia.
The shelter’s mission focuses on helping cats “mentally and physically heal, giving them a chance to find love, a fulfilling life, and a forever home.” Boyce said the partnership with Evanston Public Library plays a key role in achieving this mission.
“It’s been a wonderful event,” Boyce said. “It’s the highlight of my staff’s month whenever we do it.”
Anna Luce, an attendee, brought her daughter Ruby after receiving an email from the library about the event. She said Ruby loves animals, and the event was a great way for them to get their “cat fix” since their two cats had recently passed away.
Luce emphasized the importance of reading at home and wanted to make the experience enjoyable for her daughter. The pair spent 20 minutes in a room with cats, toys, and books.
“We’re a big book family,” Luce said. “We read every day together. Reading to cats is a fun way to do that.”
Sindelar hopes to continue organizing the event in the future, as it has been well-received by the community.
She stressed that teaching children to read aloud is just as important as teaching them silent reading. Her goal is to make reading enjoyable for kids.
“Animals are a great way to teach children empathy because they connect with them so easily,” Sindelar explained. “That sense of civic-mindedness and kindness can expand out to the community.”
Related Topics
