Chicago Animal Care and Control introduced a new music therapy program called Sound Sessions, according to an April 15 announcement. The initiative brings volunteer musicians into the city’s largest animal shelter, located at 2741 S. Western Ave., where they perform for dogs, cats, staff, and visitors.
The program aims to create a calmer environment in the often noisy shelter that houses over 350 kennels. Michelle Rosenthal, executive director of the Rosenthal Family Foundation—a partner in the project—said, “It’s music therapy for everybody. Everyone benefits, including the pets, performers, staff and visitors walking through.”
Sound Sessions began when Rosenthal’s foundation recruited musicians in January to play for animals at Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC). Since then, more than 40 volunteers have registered through an online form to participate on school holidays and weekends. Performers have included students playing violin or piano duets for attentive cats and dogs as well as harpists and rock trios.
Feedback from participants has been positive. Armando Tejada of CACC said: “We’ve had strong interest from students, families and community partners. The program has continued to grow, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re seeing a wide range of performers participate, all providing calm, live enrichment for the animals.”
Rosenthal explained that both people and animals benefit from these sessions: “CACC can be a stressful place,” she said. “The music helps to bring the levels down. People feel more relaxed and calm and can take a breath.” She added that live interaction is key: “The presence of a person makes a difference… The eye contact helps the animals find a connection.”
Volunteers say performing also connects them with animal welfare efforts in Chicago. Howard Lam said after his children performed at CACC: “It allows the children to tap into the power of music, and feel the connection with the pets.” Other volunteers described how different instruments—including singing bowls or melodicas—helped enrich both their own experience as well as that of shelter residents.
Rosenthal hopes Sound Sessions will encourage more people to support animal adoption or volunteering at CACC events such as Spring Into Love—a day featuring waived adoption fees alongside musical performances by volunteers.
“We’ve had amazing musicians,” Rosenthal said. “A mom and daughter recently came back to play after adopting a dog in December… this program allows people to find their way to help out.”
