Houston – Music has the power to heal, calm, and connect humans in ways we might not expect. For 11-year-old Yuvi Agrawal, its impact extends beyond people—it reaches shelter animals.
Agrawal is the founder of Wild Tunes by Yuvi, a non-profit he started after noticing how music calmed his dog, Bozo. Now, he brings that same soothing power to shelters across the Houston area, helping animals relax and making them more adoptable. Agrawal, who has been playing the piano since he was five years old, first realized the effect music had on animals after playing for Bozo. “He’s a very playful dog and doesn’t calm down that much, but music really helps him,” Agrawal said.
His mother Priyanka says he has always been drawn to animals and after a visit to Citizens for Animal Protection, Agrawal asked if he could play music for the animals. Following that visit, Wild Tunes was born!
Since launching the nonprofit last year, Agrawal has played at various shelters, including Houston Humane Society, BARC, and Houston Pets Alive. His process is simple yet effective. “When I walk in, the dogs are really excited,” he explained. “But once I start playing, within five or ten seconds, they start calming down and lying down and listening to the music.”
Instead of starting with a particular song, he prefers to compose music on the spot. “I just play what comes to my fingers,”
On Houston Life Agrawal played a piece on his keyboard for co-host Derrick Shore, reporter Lauren Kelly, and Speedy, the chihuahua-beagle mix who is up for adoption at Special Pals in Katy!
In addition to his work at shelters, Agrawal will host the second annual Melodies of Gratitude concert on October 26 at Resurrection MCC Church in the Heights. The free concert will also serve as a fundraiser for local shelters, BARC, Houston Humane Society, and Special Pals. The event will feature a mix of young and professional musicians, with performances from schools such as Shepherd School of Music and Texas singer-songwriter Bo Bottoms. The concert is a unique platform where they will not only showcase young talent but also raise money to support over 15,000 homeless animals in Houston shelters.
For more information on Wild Tunes by Yuvi and how to support his mission, visit wildtunes.org.