11-Year-Old Becomes First Child to Read 100 Volunteer Hours to Shelter Pets

July 27, 2026

An 11-year-old boy in Florida has proven that one simple act of kindness can make a lasting difference.

After spending more than two years reading books to homeless shelter animals, Nehemiah Turner has become the first child in the history of the Jacksonville Humane Society's Pawsitive Reading program to reach an incredible milestone of 100 volunteer hours.

boy reads to dogs 100 hours Nehemiah Turner / Jacksonville Humane Society

For Nehemiah, the time he spends at the shelter isn't just about reading. It's about bringing comfort to dogs that are waiting for a family to call their own.

"I hope that they get adopted, and I hope I achieved my goal too," Nehemiah told ABC News.

The Jacksonville Humane Society's Pawsitive Reading program invites children of all ages to read aloud to shelter animals. The program has a dual purpose by helping children strengthen their reading skills while also creating a calm, soothing environment for stressed animals.

"It feels soothing, feels good, calm, comforted animals, not like a whole bunch of barking is happening," Nehemiah said.

Nehemiah began visiting the shelter with his grandmother more than two years ago and quickly formed a special connection with the animals. He still remembers the very first dog he ever read to.

"I went up there with my book, and I sat down with this dog named Auggie," he recalled. "I started to read to him, and after we had to leave, I started to cry, because I didn't want to leave the humane society."

In June, Nehemiah officially became the first volunteer in the program's history to log 100 reading hours. To celebrate the achievement, the Jacksonville Humane Society presented him with a certificate recognizing his dedication.

Lawrence Nicolas, CEO of the Jacksonville Humane Society, praised the young volunteer's remarkable commitment.

"One hundred hours read here at the shelter is such an amazing accomplishment over two years. That's some serious dedication for a young person like Nehemiah," Nicolas said.

He added that Nehemiah's story is a reminder of how powerful kindness can be.

"Nehemiah reminds us that meaningful change often begins with one simple act of kindness. By dedicating his time to reading with animals here at the shelter, he has not only helped homeless pets but also inspired those around him to see the difference one person can make."

boy reads to dogs 100 hours Nehemiah Turner / Jacksonville Humane Society

The benefits extend beyond the shelter animals. Nehemiah, who is heading into sixth grade as a straight A student, has also strengthened his own literacy skills through the program.

Nicolas hopes more families will follow Nehemiah's example.

"This is a place where we can put the tablet and the electronics down, pick up a good old fashioned book, and read to somebody who really wants to hear your voice. How can you beat that?" he said.

As proud as he is of reaching 100 hours, Nehemiah isn't finished yet.

When asked what comes next, he smiled and set his sights even higher.

"What's next? I think we got to set up a new hour. So I think I set up like 110, 150, and 200 hours."

For the dogs patiently waiting behind kennel doors, those extra hours will mean even more comforting voices, more quiet moments, and perhaps one more reason to keep hoping that their forever family is just around the corner.