Group seeks walkers; dogs to be provided
Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/240896/
Here’s an idea for your local animal shelter’s “Why Didn’t I Think of That ?” file: The Humane Society of Independence County’s weekly Dog Walk Club.
It’s free exercise for dogs and people. And the dogs come to meet the people in a central location.
“You go at your own pace, with a dog you feel comfortable with,” says volunteer Sue Augustus. “We generally have between seven and 13 walkers.”
Any and all dog lovers can join the society’s volunteers in walking shelter dogs at 8: 30 a. m. Wednesdays in Batesville. The club meets at the city’s North Complex recreation center at 3451 E. Main St.
Anyone who wants to walk with a (very grateful ) dog is welcome. Volunteers merely ask that you call ahead to (870 ) 251-4145 or (870 ) 307-5305 so they bring enough dogs for everyone.
The society used to have trouble recruiting volunteers, but since the walking club began in September, “we’ve got a core group of five to eight, depending on the weather and what they have planned,” says Augustus, a board member who takes off work for the walking club.
“It’s been tremendous for the dogs,” she says. “The turnaround [in their mood ] has been amazing. And we get out and get exercise, and it makes us feel good just to be outside with them.”
Many of the dogs start out scared and apprehensive, she says, but quickly take to the adventure.
They walk about a mile around the North Complex. “We go at least one time [around ] because if it’s a new dog it takes them at least one time to get comfortable,” Augustus says. “If they have time, they can go two times.
“ Sometimes we’ll go back and drop dogs off and come back with other dogs. We’re really, really flexible with the people schedule as well as with the weather.”
A small creek behind the shelter gives the dogs a chance to splash through water (on their leashes ). “They love to play in the water,” she says.
Weather permitting, the club will meet every Wednesday through the winter, although the meeting time might change as the temperature cools.
Another society volunteer, Lynn Makarick, came up with the idea as an optional workout for the Fitness Bootcamp Unlimited group she attends. “They didn’t have a workout on Wednesday,” Augustus says.
Now they do.