This Shelter Is Using The “Pokemon Go” Craze To Recruit Volunteers–And It`s Working

Even if you don’t know what “Pokemon Go” is, you’ve probably heard about it recently.

For those who need a brief synopsis: it’s a game that’s downloaded onto a smartphone. It syncs to the camera and Google Maps, and players try to “catch” the characters that appear on their phone screens.

The game has quickly become popular, resulting in players wandering about town, trying to “catch them all”… and one shelter is taking advantage of these walking explorers!

Muncie Animal Shelter in Indiana is recruiting volunteer dog walkers by appealing to these Pokemon Go fans. If they’re walking around town playing a game, they might as well do it with a shelter dog in tow!

Of course, these gamers are reminded not to get too involved in their games. The dogs’ safety is the most important thing, as well as giving them a bit of joy until they find their forever homes.

“The exercise and stimulation for the dogs is the first priority,” explained Muncie Animal Shelter director Phil Peckinpaugh to Buzzfeed. “If we can get volunteers and adoptions, that’s been the number one goal. Always.”

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The idea has taken off, with volunteers of all ages eager to hunt Pokemon characters with their shelter sidekicks.

“Kids, they love it! There are people walking dogs [right now], posting pics on their Instagrams and social media. That exposure for the dogs is really quite epic,” Peckinpaugh said in the Buzzfeed story.

Game playing for a good cause? Yes, please!