Wesley Swainston made a noble decision to volunteer at his local dog shelter, and he came up with a creative way to help rescue dogs find their forever homes. He’s taking them on runs and sharing their adventures on social media, in the hope people will realize how adaptable shelter dogs can be.
Swainston is an active-duty Marine from Florida with two dogs of his own, whose decision to volunteer at an animal shelter Adoption First near Jacksonville completely changed his life.
“While balancing my military duties, I decided to volunteer at my local shelter, helping train dogs and showcasing their personalities online to aid in their adoption. Training dogs that have been confined for long periods can be challenging; they often have boundless energy and need an outlet,” he told People.
Swainston started going on runs with dogs from a shelter, giving them the physical exercise they desperately crave, while also helping fearful dogs open up. He found viral fame once he started sharing videos from their runs on social media, including the one that shows him preparing for a marathon by running 26 miles with different rescue dogs.
Swainston motivated many people in his local community, including some of his fellow Marines, to volunteer by his side at a dog shelter, and he hopes his videos will inspire people around the world to do the same.
