At the Humane Society of Missouri, a unique and incredible experiment is underway. Called the Shelter Buddies Reading Program, the project’s goal is to help antisocial and hyperactive dogs develop the social skills they need to get adopted. By enlisting the help of young children who love reading, the Humane Society hopes that these sessions will help animals come out of their shells.

When you see how the pups respond, you’ll realize that this program is a home run.

The method shown here helps dogs learn to come to the front of their cages when potential adopters walk by. If they meet people and interact, they’re far more likely to find forever homes. It’s ingenuity like this that has the potential to help thousands of animals in need.