11-Year-Old US Boy Reads to Dogs for 100 Hours and Sets Record

Eleven-year-old Nehemiah Turner, who lives in Florida, USA, has attracted attention for his love of animals. For the past two years, he has volunteered with the Jacksonville Humane Society’s “Pawsitive Reading” program, reading books aloud to animals at the shelter.

In June, Nehemiah became the first child in the program to reach 100 hours of reading. To mark the achievement, he received a special certificate confirming 100 hours of volunteer service.

The boy says he especially enjoys reading to dogs. In his view, a calm voice soothes the animals and helps them feel more at ease at the shelter. Nehemiah hopes this will help the dogs find new, loving owners more quickly.

Program representatives also emphasize that these sessions help reduce the animals’ stress. One of the dogs Nehemiah read to, Hopper, had stayed at the shelter for nearly 400 days, and the boy read to him during every visit. Hopper eventually found a new home.

Lawrence Nicholas, head of the Jacksonville Humane Society, praised Nehemiah’s initiative, noting that his simple yet heartfelt actions are inspiring not only the animals at the shelter but the entire community.