Working in animal rescue comes with its fair share of challenges—especially when you’re juggling the care of countless dogs while also trying to find them loving homes.
Because of this, some dogs end up staying in shelters far longer than they should. But that doesn’t mean rescuers stop trying.
From sharing stories on social media to taking pups to adoption events, rescuers do everything they can to help them get noticed.
And one man had a creative idea that made a big impact. When he took a shelter pup named Elmer out for a run, he hoped it might boost her chances of adoption. What happened next was a surprise he never saw coming.
Definitely Didn’t Expect That!
Wesley Swainston, a dog lover with plenty of experience around pups, began volunteering at Adoption First, a shelter in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
While serving in the Marine Corps, Wesley used his spare time to help out at the shelter, and he came up with a smart way to support the dogs: combining his daily runs with giving shelter pups a break from kennel life.
Running allowed the dogs to stretch their legs, burn off energy, and enjoy the outdoors—something they desperately needed.
It also turned out to be great exposure. As they ran through public areas, Wesley would hand out little “business cards” with the dog’s adoption info, helping more people learn about them.
After relocating to New Mexico, Wesley continued his volunteer work—this time with the Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center.
That’s where he met Elmer, a sweet dog who had already spent over 130 days at the shelter, still waiting for her forever family.
Elmer Was Quiet, But Deserving
Elmer was on the shy side, which unfortunately made it harder for her to stand out to potential adopters.
Wesley decided to take her on one of his runs, and it turned out to be a day neither of them would forget.
During the jog, Wesley stopped to chat with another runner and shared Elmer’s story. To his surprise, the woman was genuinely touched and interested.
Although she wasn’t in a position to adopt Elmer herself, she promised to tell others about the sweet pup, believing, like Wesley, that she deserved a loving home.
They continued their run together, and later, Wesley and Elmer returned to the shelter after a fun and meaningful outing.
Not only did Elmer get some much-needed exercise, but she also got the attention and exposure that could change her life.
While Elmer is still waiting for her big break, it’s clear she’s surrounded by people who believe in her. And with their help, her forever home may be just around the corner.