Dog Walks

Walks are a great way to spend quality time, to exercise, and to teach dogs leash manners that will make them more adoptable. Walks usually have fewer distractions than yards and may offer a better opportunity for leash and obedience training. When all yards are in use, or if a dog is a fence jumper/digger, volunteers also may opt to take the dog for a walk.

• Avoid high-traffic areas if others are walking dogs nearby.

• Walk calmly past other dogs, avoid dog-dog contact, and note any reactivity/selectivity.

• For big dogs that pull hard, jump, or require more control, consider turning slip leash into figure-8 harness.

• Clean up after your dog; discard poop bags in a garbage dumpster, not a trash can or recycling dumpster.

• If you notice anything wrong with the dog’s urine or stool, fill out a Volunteer Observation form and hand it to front office staff on duty.

Highlighted areas (blue, orange, purple) in this map indicate where volunteers are permitted to walk a dog based on proficiency:

• Blue volunteers - parking lot behind/south of shelter

• Orange volunteers - above + Sheriff and Probation lots

• Purple volunteers - above + surrounding area