Wags and Walks shows man can be a dog's best friend

[TribalRats]

Wags and Walks shows man can be a dog's best friend
LARRY COPENHAVER
Tucson Citizen

Folks say dogs are man's best friend, and now a group called Wags and Walks is trying to show the animals at a county shelter that the critters have friends, too.
Members of the group from SaddleBrooke show up at the Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Road, each Tuesday and Thursday to take dogs on a jaunt through a nearby park.
"We try to teach them little things, but we only have about 15 minutes with each dog," said Kristin Goddard.
The volunteers stay at the shelter for two to three hours, giving as many pooches as possible a chance to get out of the shelter for a little fresh air, sun and a few pats from loving humans.
The shelter accommodates about 400 dogs, but there are only about 60 volunteer walkers, said Jenny Kading, volunteer coordinator for PACC. "We are always trying to expand our program, but we need more volunteers."
Kading sees the work as beneficial to both canis familiaris and humans because both learn so much from the experience.
Humans learn about each dog's personality and traits, and the homeless dogs get tender loving care and a taste of the outdoors.
"It gives me a lot of satisfaction that we are doing some good. The dogs there don't get much one-on-one attention," said Shirley Culliney, 67. "Just giving them some commands and petting them helps socialize them so they are attractive for potential adoptions."
Culliney became so attached to a puppy she met at the shelter that she adopted him, naming him Walker.
"Walker is doing wonderful. He's 4 months old. He asks to go outside, and he doesn't chew anything up," she said. "He was picked up as a stray."
Giving the animals a short reprieve from shelter life is important, said 63-year-old Kay Urb, a member of the Wags and Walks. Also, volunteers offer opinions to potential pet owners about various animal's personalities and behaviors.
"The dogs are so different when you take them out of the kennel," Urb said. "All of a sudden, they get their personality back, and show they are wonderful pets. The dog you see in the kennel is not the dog you get (personalitywise)."
They also staff off-site adoption centers such as local pet stores and assist shelter staff members grooming the dogs, Kading added.
Wags and Walker member Muriel Skarin, 79, said purebreds are the most popular for adoption, but she tries to promote mixed breeds.
"With mixes, you get the best of each breed," she said.
Scottie Kilian, a retired social worker who lives near Starr Pass, said all volunteers are welcome to help at the shelter. There are all kinds of jobs.
Besides walking, she helps clean kennels, do laundry and comfort animals that have undergone surgery for spaying or neutering, she said. "I like to be there for them when they wake up, to pet them and help them relax.
"I just love these animals," she added. "I just love them so much. And besides, the good we do for the animals, just look at the good we are doing for ourselves."