The Wednesday night run for this group always starts out the same - at a sprint.

“When I first started this program, I though we’d walk a quarter mile or so to warm up,” said Alan Ward, the group leader. “But the dogs wouldn’t have any of it. No warm-up, no stretching,” he said. “They just want to go.”

The runners don’t seem to mind much. The dogs are from the Seattle Animal Shelter, and they’re so anxious to get outside and exercise, their energy and enthusiasm are infectious.

Ward started the volunteer program last year when he was looking for companionship and motivation to keep running in the winter as it got dark and cold. He realized the dogs needed an excuse to go running as much as he did, and he assumed others might feel the same way.

A core group of seven to nine runners, mostly women, have volunteered for the program and come to the animal shelter on Wednesday nights for a group run with the dogs through nearby Myrtle Edwards park.

“This is the highlight of my week,” said Irene Van Nostrand, the group’s co-leader.

Volunteers try to match their running ability with the dog’s running ability and stay in groups of two or three for safety and visibility.

According to Van Nostrand, the program is meant to socialize the dogs with people as well as other animals and reinforce positive behavior. The dogs wear vests that say they’re available for adoption.

Volunteers go through extensive training since many animals in the shelter have been abused or neglected by previous owners, said volunteer coordinator Christine Titus. The classes also ensure the dogs receive consistent treatment from the many volunteers they are in contact with, which helps enforce good behavior and makes the dogs more adoptable.

The training includes dog behavior and dog handling classes, as well as a weekend shift at the animal shelter to learn adoption procedures so volunteers are prepared to answer questions when out in public with the dogs.

Although the Wednesday night runs start out at a brisk pace, after a mile or so the dogs mellow out and are happy to run next to the volunteers, rather than straining at their leashes to go faster.

The volunteer program has been so successful that some nights there are more runners than dogs. Get Fit With Fido is one of 20 volunteer programs at the shelter, including Sunday morning walks around Greenlake and cat snuggling.

The programs are making a difference. According to Titus, this year the shelter placed 686 more animals in homes than last year.

At the end of the run, the volunteers put the dogs back in the kennels with blankets and a toy. Some of the volunteers have their own dogs at home, but many are unable to have pets for some reason and are reluctant to leave the shelter at the end of the night.

“It’s hard because sometimes you get too attached,” Ward said. “I try to keep a little distant from the dogs, because you know they won’t be here forever, but it’s hard to be detached,” he said as he reached down to pet his running partner for the night.

Goals of the program:

• Exercise dogs that are confined to kennels for long periods of time
• Make the public aware of the shelter
• Encourage runners and joggers to adopt dogs for companionship and safety
• Have fun and make new friends - two and four legged

Interested in joining Get Fit With Fido? The next volunteer session starts in January. Call (206) 615-0820 for more information.

Want to adopt a dog? Go to www.petshelternetwork.com to find animals looking for a home. Or contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at (206) 386-4254.

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