Paws and Pages Community Reading 2026

Thank you for your interest in our community reading program! We hope your participation leads to volunteering at our shelter! Paws & Pages helps to socialize scared and nervous dogs in the shelter. By reading to pups through the Paws & Pages event, you are helping to provide relief for shelter animals as they await their forever homes. 

This activity helps fearful shelter dogs become used to human presence. Community members are able to engage dogs from outside of their kennel using calm voices and tones. PLEASE NOTE, THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TOUCH ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER DUE TO VOLUNTEER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. However, reading to dogs can be JUST AS IMPORTANT as spending time petting and playing with them. 

Paws & Pages sessions are not an open time event. You must arrive at the scheduled start time for this event. Your Paws and Pages Host will meet you at the entrance or in the lobby at the scheduled start time and guide you through the process. There will be signage to direct you to your host! Please don't hesitate to ask Adoptions staff for help if needed.

Paws & Pages Instructions: Reading Outside of the Kennel

• All participants MUST register on GivePulse before the event. If you need assistance with registering, please email us at paccvolunteer@pima.gov. 
• You should bring a book or a mobile device with Kindle or another reading app. We highly recommend you bring a portable seat for yourself as well, whether that is a foldable seat or a comfortable stool. PACC does not have the means to provide seating for participants.
  
  • If you are bringing your own chair/seat, be sure it is something you are comfortable carrying around campus and can fit in your vehicle for storage when not in use. While reading to dogs, ensure your seat does not block the aisle! (i.e., no inflatable sofas or bean bag chairs!)
  • If you need protective equipment for your ears, such as headphones, be sure to bring your own that will still allow you to hear emergency calls. Do NOT bring noise-canceling headphones, only noise muffling. Ear plugs are also available at PACC along the kennel walls.
• Paws & Pages dogs will be assigned to you. Please be open to reading to the animal that needs your help the most!
• PACC policy requires an adult to accompany all minor participants under 15 at all times. This is for the safety and well-being of children and shelter animals. Children of all ages are welcome to participate, but we ask that there is one guardian to one child at all times.