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The non-profit charity where musicians play songs to shelter pets

Volunteer Sarah McDonner played Mozart and Bach on her flute for Max, a 1-year-old stray boxer that tilted his head when she hit the high notes. — Volunteer Sarah McDonner played Mozart and Bach on her flute for Max, a 1-year-old stray boxer that tilted his head when she hit the high notes. (AP)

Yuvi Agarwal, a 12-year-old from Houston, founded the non-profit Wild Tunes in 2023 to use music to soothe shelter pets.
Wild Tunes recruits volunteer musicians to perform in animal shelters, currently operating in Houston, New Jersey, and Denver with around 100 participants.
Agarwal and other musicians have observed calming effects on animals, with some becoming more receptive to human interaction and potentially more adoptable.
While the calming effect of music on humans is well-documented, its precise role in animal behavior is still under research, with some studies showing positive effects but also mixed results depending on various factors.
Agarwal aims to expand Wild Tunes nationwide, highlighting the reciprocal benefits for volunteers who gain confidence performing for a nonjudgmental audience.

The 12-year-old boy who set up a charity for musicians to play songs to animals stuck in shelters — In full