There is a $10 program fee per child for each session they attend. This fee covers the cost of program materials and ensures the program can continue to be offered. If you child wants to attend and you are unable to afford the fee, please reach out to our Humane Educator at [email protected]

Shelter Tales is offered for children ages 8-12 years old.

Shelter Tales is currently offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 10-11 am. This program takes places prior to shelter opening hours so the doors will be locked upon your arrival. The program leader will meet you at the lobby doors to let you inside to sign your child in.

Your child is welcome to bring their own reading materials if they prefer, but reading materials are also provided. Your child should also bring any forms they need signed for community service hours. Please don’t bring food or your own pet to the program.

Shelter Tales is  hosted at our Lantos Center for Compassion, 1450 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010.

Since Shelter Tales takes place while the shelter is still closed, parents are not allowed in the shelter while the program is taking place. We kindly request that you wait in your vehicle, or drop your child off and pick them up when the program is over.

After students are signed in we play a short game that teaches the students how to understand and interpret the body language of cats and dogs. This educates students about how to recognize if and when an animal is having a negative reaction to their presence and in that circumstance, they would choose a different animal to read to. Next we go over program rules and learn about the animals that are available to be read to. Because not every animal is a good candidate to meet and interact with children, for liability purposes we are unable to allow program participants to touch animals during the program, please make your child aware of this.