Shelter Buddies gives second and third-graders from four Visalia elementary schools an enhanced, expanded experience of improving their reading skills while helping Shelter animals find their forever homes. The program was developed by Read for Life in cooperation with ProYouth HEART and the Visalia Animal Care Center.  Students at each ProYouth HEART after-school site take the Tulare County-run Loop Bus on six consecutive Tuesdays to the Visalia Animal Care Center to read aloud for one hour to animals up for adoption. Reading to the dogs helps to bring comfort to and reduce the anxiety of shelter animals, and it nurtures empathy in children while improving their ability to read. For program information, email nancy@readforlife.org.