US primary school students have harnessed the power of reading to help soothe anxious pets awaiting adoption at local shelters.

Yesterday the students attended the Humane Society of Missouri shelters as part of Read Across America Day – a day marking Dr Seuss’s birthday, USA Today reports .

The activity was just one of multiple readings Missouri shelters have held as part of the Shelter Buddies Reading Program every day of the week.

The goal of the program is to help socialise nervous dogs and cats by offering “positive reinforcement”.

“(This) encourages the animals to have the courage to approach the kennel front each time a visitor comes through the adoption centre,” the shelter’s director of education JoEllyn Klepacki said.

“This is important because animals who approach the kennel front to greet potential adopters get adopted much more quickly than those who don’t.”

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Video of the event shows children wearing Dr Seuss hats sitting by animal enclosures reading their favourite books from the popular children’s series while their furry residents look on.

The program, currently held at two Humane Society of Missouri shelters, is expected to expand to a third location next month.