Wouldn’t it be a great idea if running teams would get together with animal shelters and help to exercise their dogs? The cross country track team at Steinbrenner High School near Tampa, Florida took that idea and made it a reality.
Each morning before starting their daily run, the high school track team stops by the animal shelter. They are given several dogs to take along with them. It’s a win-win because the dogs and runners motivate each other.
Source: Humane Society of Tampa Bay/Facebook
One of the canine stars of the program with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay is Jasper. An update by the shelter on Facebook read, “For high-energy, highly intelligent dogs like Jasper, shelter life can quickly become stressful and their mental health suffers.”
The dog went from playing a bit rough with other shelter dogs and having a shorter temper to being more relaxed after his runs.
Source: The Dodo
Dubbed the “Boss Cross” team, the track athletes allow the dogs to get some outdoor time, exercise their legs, and help to stimulate their minds. The story gets even better, though.
One of the kids fell in love with Jasper, so he adopted him. The pooch will become a college canine soon, as his owner is heading to the University of Florida in the fall.
Source: Humane Society of Tampa Bay/Facebook
Happy trails to you, Jasper. Thanks to the track team for supporting this wonderful initiative to get more dogs adopted. Check out the adoption page for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to make a fast friend of your own.
Source: Humane Society of Tampa Bay/Facebook
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