- 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.
IN FULL
The 12-year-old boy who set up a charity for musicians to play songs to animals stuck in shelters
