Tale for Two 2026

By bringing young readers into our shelter, our adoptable cats and dogs benefit from the calm, positive presence of a child - helping build confidence, reduce stress, and provide valuable enrichment. This in-shelter reading program is open to youth ages 6–13, and sessions take place on Wednesday afternoons between 4:00pm and 4:30pm as well as 4:30-5:00pm. Reading time is limited to 20 minutes.

When registering, you may select cattery or kennel based on your child’s preference for reading to cats or dogs. While we do our best to honor these general preferences, we are not able to accept requests to read to specific animals. Our shelter staff thoughtfully selects which pets participate each week based on their needs, temperament, and wellbeing. Many of our animals greatly benefit from Tale for Two, and this program helps support all shelter animals by giving them comfort, confidence, and positive interactions.

Please note that the shelter is closed to the public on Wednesdays, and visits during Tale for Two are exclusively for this program. Families will not be able to walk through the shelter, view additional animals, or receive adoption counseling during this time. If you are interested in adopting, we encourage you to return during our regular open hours.

Children may bring their own books or choose one from the VBSPCA Library.

A minimum donation of $10 per child is required to reserve a space.

Children cannot be left unattended under any circumstances. An adult must remain with their child at all times to ensure a safe and positive experience. If you have more than one child reading, each child must be registered separately. Each child must have an adult present with them; however, if two children are attending with only one adult, both children must read to the same animal. If multiple children will be reading together with one chaperone, both children must be signed up in advance. You may reserve one time slot, make the $20 donation, and include both children’s names in the registration notes, or you may register and pay for each child separately. Due to space limitations, only the registered child and their accompanying adult may attend the session. Unregistered siblings or guests will not be able to join.

Please arrive by the start of your selected time to allow time for a full reading experience. We are unable to accommodate late arrivals.

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Host or Publisher Virginia Beach SPCA