The worst part about playing Pokemon Go is having to aimlessly walk around while onlookers judge you for aimlessly walking around. Worse yet, is when an odd stranger yells “Gotta catch ’em all!” in a very patronizing tone while you’re just trying to mind your own business and catch a pidgey on a street corner. What if there was a way to walk and play Pokemon, but not look so aimless? What if you could walk for a good cause?
The Muncie Animal Shelter in Muncie, Indiana decided to put all those steps Pokemon Go players are logging to good use. They invited all Pokemon Go players in the area to help give their dogs a walk while they play.
Shelter director Phil Peckinpaugh got the idea when he noticed so many people playing Pokemon Go all over the city. He played the game with his daughter and realized this was a perfect opportunity to help their dogs in need. He joined forces with Sam Wiser, an intern at the mayor’s office and came up with the campaign. Subsequently, the ad went viral and was shared over 25K times.
The campaign was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. People from all over Indiana came to give the shelter pups a walk (and hatch an egg or two). Just one hour after the campaign was announced, the shelter was met with lines of children and adults looking to volunteer their time.
Peckinpaugh didn’t expect such a huge response, but he was overwhelmed with support. “Kids, they love it!” he told Buzzfeed. “There are people walking dogs [right now], posting pics on their Instagrams and social media. That exposure for the dogs is really quite epic.”
The whole movement is so heart-warming it could bring us to tears! Just look at all the happy puppies below.
Look at how happy these dogs look!
Gotta get those fire types!
Zubat is no match for this little guy.
A little Gastly can’t scare this brave puppy!
If you live in Indiana, stop by the Muncie Animal Shelter between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to play Pokemon and walk some dogs. You might just fall in love and bring home a new puppy instead of a boring old Pidgey!
