Just the other day I was down at near the Buffalo Animal Shelter taking some photos in advance of writing a post about dog walking opportunities. I was hoping to inform readers about walking homeless dogs at the shelter at lunchtime, after work, etc.. Before I even got started, a friend of mine sent me a link to an awesome initiative that matched a high school running team with shelter dogs (see Life with Dogs article).
It was the St. Joseph High School Cross-Country Team that ended up calling the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter to see if there might be a good fit. The shelter loved the idea, and now the dogs get to run in the morning, and runners get some inspiration from their four-legged companions. In the end, a dog might actually find a home, possibly with a runner or a passerby who encounters the dog on a run.
This unique program got me to thinking about all of the running groups in Buffalo – there are so many! Maybe one of those groups might see a similar opportunity? It’s great that the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter dogs are being walked by selfless animal lovers. The dogs are getting some fresh air and additional human contact. And the dog walkers get the benefit of being a caretaker for stranded pet. Beyond these walks, there is so much more that we could be doing.
Can you imagine how happy the pups would be to go out on a morning run? If you’re a runner, and you have an idea that would see these dogs get some regular exercise, the shelter might be open to hearing what you have to say. Maybe even individual runners could partake in this type of activity, if someone was to orchestrate a pilot program.
See Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter on Facebook.
City of Buffalo Animal Shelter | 380 N. Oak St, Buffalo, NY 14203 | (716) 851-5694
Photo: St. Joseph High School Cross-Country Team