A dog trainer has turned heads with his creative way to help shelter dogs socialize and get noticed.
Wesley Swainston, 28, has been volunteering at animal shelters for some time, and he has worked with dogs across the country. While he was previously in the Marine Corps, he volunteered at the Adoption First shelter in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in his free time.
Running was already part of his routine back then, so he had the idea to merge his two passions. Swainston started bringing the dogs along when he went running, telling Newsweek that they “get a lot of attention,” and it makes a big difference in their lives.
“Training is the biggest life-changing factor for a shelter dog, but I can’t train them all,” Swainston said. “Running gives them mental stimulation, a break from the shelter chaos, and more exposure. Even just 30 minutes outside can make a huge difference in a dog’s outlook.”
Wesley Swainston, 28, running with Elmer the shelter dog.
@forthedogs_ / TikTok
Now, running with a shelter dog has become a regular habit for Swainston, who currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He even hands out “business cards” for the dogs with their adoption information.
One of the rescue pups he took out recently was Elmer, a husky mix thought to be around 2 to 3 years old. Elmer has been waiting at the Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center for over 130 days without much interest.
Elmer was “a little shy at first,” but once he found his groove, he loved every moment of the run. The duo stopped at a local café, and Elmer even made some friends, including another runner called Kate.
“Elmer’s been at the shelter a long time—so long it feels like he sees the staff as family. He lit up the most when we got back to the shelter, and he saw the staff again. It just shows how much they care for him and how strong a bond he can form when he feels safe,” Swainston said.
Swainston regularly shares videos on TikTok (@forthedogs_) showing how much each dog enjoys running. On April 7, he shared a video of Elmer’s run, and it went viral with over 780,900 views and more than 75,600 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
Having done this for over a year, Swainston said the reaction is always overwhelmingly positive. He’s hoping that all the love and support for Elmer will lead to a permanent adoption.
“People root for these dogs. They really connect with their stories,” Swainston said. “Elmer would thrive in an active home—someone who’s outdoorsy and can keep up with his husky energy. Hiking, running, exploring, he’d love all of that.”
Alongside all the shelter dogs he takes running, Swainston has also been fostering a dog called Oreo since February. He was on the euthanasia list in California due to alleged aggression, but Swainston knew he could help.
He doesn’t believe that Oreo is aggressive, but that he was in a stressful environment. With training and structure, Oreo has shown just how loving and affectionate he can be.
Swainston told Newsweek: “Oreo is awesome. He’s low energy, loves to nap, but still down for a good fetch session. I’m planning to take him on a run this week, off-leash, which will definitely turn some heads.
“Oreo needs a home that’s committed to his training. He’s mellow and sweet but needs structure and someone who understands him. With the right person, he’s a dream dog,” he said.
While Swainston can’t train every dog, he’s doing what he can to help as many as possible. They all want to get noticed, and by taking them out running, he hopes to show people just how deserving they all are.
Since the video of Elmer’s run went viral, it has already garnered over 1,100 comments on TikTok.
One comment reads: “Great idea! Promote the puppies like this. I wish all dogs had a loving home.”
Another person wrote: “Getting a run club going for your shelter pups would be seriously epic.”
A TikTok user commented: “You are amazing thank you for helping these sweet precious babies.”
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