28 THE NEW BARKER
www.TheNewBarker.com
      This September will mark the fourth year in a row, the 
Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) has welcomed Sabrina 
Calandro and a group of her students to serenade their shelter 
pets. The success of the program is the enthusiasm of Sabrina’s 
students. “It’s an amazing dual experience benefiting the stu-
dents, who are able to play before an audience, and of course, 
the shelter animals, who seem to really enjoy it,” said Sabrina.  
      “This partnership allows us to provide meaningful enrich-
ment for our animals while also engaging the community,” said 
JHS CEO Lawrence Nicolas. 
      Multiple studies by different entities have shown that classi-
cal music can reduce stress in animals. One study from Queens 
University Belfast looked at the impact of three types of sound 
on kennel dogs and dogs in private homes: classical music, 
audiobooks and silence (the control group). After closely 
observing behavior changes, the researchers concluded that 
classical music had a notable calming effect in “acutely stressful 
situations,” such as a visit to the vet and a long car ride. 
      Not all styles of classical music are effective, though. Slow 
tempo (50-60 beats per minute or less), simple compositions 
with low or no percussive elements are best. That combination 
has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (the hormone that 
indicates a stress response) in dogs; however, the underlying rea-
son for this effect is less well understood. 
      “The most sensible explanation is that there is something 
inherently relaxing about this genre of music, perhaps resulting 
in the release of chemicals that bring about a pleasurable state of 
mind,” says Deborah Wells, co-author of the study and an animal 
behavior researcher at Queen's University Belfast.  
      For Sabrina’s students, the dogs and cats are a non-intimi-
dating audience, so the performance butterflies quickly dissipate.  
As they played their music, the students naturally connected 
with the animals. They watched their eyes and body language. A 
student commented that one of the dogs appeared uncomfort-
able at the sound of the lower tones of his cello. “So he began 
playing higher tones,” said Sabrina. “And he noticed the dog’s 
body language soften.” 
      A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive 
barking from kenneled dogs. This contributes to noise pollution, 
can cause hearing damage, and has a negative impact on all 
animals within earshot. Dogs housed in kennels and shelters are 
often exposed to high levels of noise from barking dogs, 
cleaning activities, and human interactions. Constant auditory 
stimulation can lead to increased stress levels, manifesting in 
behaviors like restlessness, barking, and aggression. Research by 
Dr. Crista L. Coppola, a PhD Board Certified Applied Animal 
Behaviorist, found that shelter dogs exposed to high noise levels 
exhibited elevated cortisol levels, indicating increased stress. 
      Addressing auditory stress is vital for promoting canine 
welfare. By recognizing the sources and impacts of auditory 
stress, and implementing strategies to mitigate it, the quality of 
life for dogs may be improved, particularly those in high stress 
environments like shelters and kennels.  
      Strategies such as soundproofing kennels, introducing calm-
ing music, and providing quiet spaces for rest can significantly 
alleviate stress. Implementing these measures not only improves 
the immediate well-being of the dogs but also aids in their long 
term emotional and physical health, making them more adapt-
able and well-adjusted. Managing auditory stress ensures a more 
humane and supportive environment, ultimately leading to 
stronger bonds between humans and their canine companions.  
      Animals and humans have innately different hearing 
capabilities. Dogs have about three times the hearing range of 
humans (frequencies up to 65,000 Hz), so they can hear higher 
pitches and sounds much further away than the average human 
ear can.  
      Cats can detect even higher frequencies (up to 79,000 
Hz). Few studies have been conducted on the calming effects 
of music on cats. However, one study found a correlation. 
Researchers put headphones on 12 cats while they were under 
sedation for neutering and played three types of sounds in 
succession: Natalie Imbruglia's Torn, Samuel Barber’s 
Adagio for Strings and AC/DC's Thunderstruck. The classical 
music choice resulted in the slowest breathing rate, the lowest 
heart rate, and the largest pupil dilation (all three indicators of 
a calming effect).
(Left): Matthew Grumbly and (Right):  Ailana Jones serenading the shelter animals at Jacksonville Humane Society.

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