PAWS Atlanta animal shelter has partnered with Wild Tunes, a program founded in 2023 by a 12-year-old Houston boy, Yuvi Agarwal.
The national nonprofit encourages volunteers to play instruments or sing to comfort, desensitize, and befriend local shelter animals.
The partnership launched on April 9, with staff bringing instruments and their voices to serenade PAWS’ resident animals. Due to space and volume constraints, the program is being piloted with the cats in the Cat Cottage and could be expanded to the dogs.
“Partnering with Wild Tunes feels like such a natural fit for us. We both care deeply about community, and this is a great way to come together, have fun, and make a real difference in the lives of dogs and cats living in the shelter,” said Laura McKelvey, Director of Operations at PAWS Atlanta, in a press release.
The initiative is part of PAWS’ 60th anniversary five-year strategic plan. By “investing in volunteers,” “reducing in-shelter stress,” and “delivering holistic support that strengthens the human-animal bond,” Wild Tunes fulfills all three of PAWS’ new strategic pillars.
Brenna Lakeson, the Communications and Community Engagement Manager at PAWS said, “I think it’s a really great and different way to bring different types of people out to the shelter to get them involved and plugged in and show people that there are more ways to make a difference for our animals than just adopting, which is obviously always the goal, but it’s not in the cards for everybody.”
Wild Tunes has 20 shelter partners in six states with over 400 volunteers. With its annual Melodies of Gratitude Concert, the nonprofit has raised more than $125,000 to benefit animal shelters in Agarwal’s Houston home. Back in 2023, then-10-year-old Agarwal got the idea for the program by playing for his own dog, Bozo, and seeing firsthand how the music calmed him.
There are no scientific studies that definitively confirm music is helpful for all animals, as reactions can vary heavily based on music type, tempo, volume, as well as the personality and experience of the animal. Despite this, it is generally accepted that in-person human interaction and voices are beneficial for shelter dogs and cats—and can even promote behaviors that increase adoption rates.
“Music has the power to calm, connect, and heal,” Yuvi said in a press release. “Wild Tunes is a win-win opportunity that helps abandoned and stressed shelter pets associate humans with something good. When pets are routinely exposed to music and our company, it helps them become more comfortable around us humans, which ultimately increases their chances of finding forever homes. For the volunteers, it is a great way to practice their music and boost their confidence.”
Currently, PAWS’ Wild Tunes program is open to musicians of all skill levels, but they must be over the age of 18 due to shelter volunteer policy. “We are hoping to be able to expand the program to involve some younger musicians as well. There’s plenty of kids who are playing in school band, or even who are playing in youth orchestras and whatnot, who would love to come and interact with our animals in that way,” Lakeson said.
“We are delighted to collaborate with PAWS Atlanta to offer live music as an alternate form of enrichment to bring positivity and joy to everyone associated with the shelter,” Priyanka Agarwal, executive director of Wild Tunes and Yuvi’s mother, said in a press release. “Over the past three years, it has been heartwarming to witness the transformative impact of Wild Tunes, not only on the shelter animals, but on the entire ecosystem – volunteers, staff members, visitors, and the community at large. The presence of a human and the sound of live music generate a happy vibe and act as a conduit to build relationships of comfort and trust.”
To join the volunteer program at PAWS Atlanta, sign up first with Wild Tunes and get more information about the onboarding process. Additionally, email Delaney Markham, PAWS Volunteer Coordinator at dmarkham@pawsatlanta.org.
