Nearly 100 shelter dogs made some new friends on Saturday at the Chula Vista Animal Services’ first ever Walk a Dog Day.
The event — which coincided with National Walk Your Dog Day — encouraged community members to spend time over the sunny weekend with the dogs, all of which are available for adoption.
More than 250 people signed up to participate, so many that the shelter had to cap volunteer submissions in the days leading up to the event. Due to the warm weather, the event’s afternoon walking appointments were canceled for the safety of the dogs.
“I know (the dogs) spend a lot of time in the shelter, so it’s nice to have them go on walks and be outside,” said Spring Valley resident Oscar Gracian, who was there with his girlfriend, walking an energetic Chinese shar-pei named Billy.
Gracian is correct; many shelter dogs are cooped up in their kennels most of the day, said Viviana Castellanos, the shelter’s public information specialist.
She said even a short amount of time spent outdoors interacting with the dogs can help improve their mental health and behavior, teach them how to be around large groups and ultimately make them more adoptable.
The dogs were partnered with volunteers, who signed up to walk them in 30-minute intervals. When one group returned from a walk, another set out.
“It’s things that they don’t normally get to do on a day-to-day basis,” Castellanos said. “So that 30 minutes will impact them long-term.”
Plus, the furry participants seemed to be having a lot of fun, wagging their tails and sniffing the plants around the shelter. A volunteer was brushing one especially fluffy canine — pampering fit for a very good dog.
Several of the dog walkers said they would want to adopt a dog, but currently are unable because they have a cat at home or their landlords don’t permit dogs.
The Chula Vista shelter took in more than 4,000 pets in 2024, according to the city, with 31% of the shelter’s dogs and 56% of its cats adopted.
Chula Vista Animal Services currently has 110 dogs in its shelter, Castellanos said, and 90 participated on Saturday. Castellanos said shelter staff determined which dogs would be the best fit for the event, including making sure they were friendly with kids.
“I love dogs, and … seeing these poor little guys that are here without a home — they really deserve a home,” said Mary Salas, a former mayor of Chula Vista who volunteered on Saturday.
She stood outside the shelter with Tina, a bulldog and pit bull terrier mix who waited patiently for her walk to begin.
Salas has one dog that she adopted from the shelter, but said Tina was “almost tempting” her to bring home another.
Volunteers who were curious about adoption could sign up for the foster-to-adopt program, a no-commitment trial run where they could spend some more time with a dog to see if they might be a good match.
But Castellanos said that adoption is just one way to support animals at the shelter, adding that community members can sign up for the volunteer dog walking program, its foster care program or even simply follow the shelter on social media.
“All these guys are capable of being great dogs,” she said. “And if you can’t adopt a dog, because it’s a big commitment, there’s plenty of ways to help us.”
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