Having a canine companion along on hikes enriches the experience on both ends of the leash. Many potential four-legged hike buddies are waiting at Valley animal shelters, and a behind-the-scenes program brings public awareness to them.
As a passionate dog lover, expert hiker and psychiatrist with 30 years’ experience working at Maricopa County Hospital, Dr. MJ Bailon is uniquely qualified to advocate for the human-canine bond. Melding her loves of dogs and hiking, she founded Hope Whispers in 2014. The volunteer dog-walking program is offered through Maricopa County Animal Care & Control shelters, where Bailon has been a lead volunteer for more than a decade. “Hope Whispers is for those who want to help but cannot commit to regular volunteer hours,” she says.
Pushing against the idea that shelter dogs are damaged goods, Bailon says these “pre-owned” gems often come with established skill sets. “Participants are surprised by how well-behaved the dogs are. They are not ‘broken.’ They love people, and some know ‘sit,’ ‘down’ and ‘shake.’”
Dogs may not present well in stressful kennel environments. Jumping, barking and acting hyper are common behaviors. “But once they are outside, they are fine,” she says. “I tell people, ‘Don’t judge what you see immediately.’” The three-hour Hope Whispers walks are open to adults and corporate groups. Volunteers must sign up in advance and agree to safety protocols.
“At the beginning of every walk, I talk about the rules. These are non-negotiable, because we don’t want accidents,” Bailon says. “There’s a specific area where we walk the dogs. It’s about a mile around the shelter. Experienced and trained shelter volunteers pull selected dogs from the kennels and provide leashes, treats, everything needed for the walks.” Each dog is taken out for 20-30 minutes. “We are committed to getting as many dogs out for walks as possible, which can mean up to 120 dogs.”
Bailon, who has trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp and hiked challenging routes around the globe, offers some advice for those wanting to adopt a shelter dog for hiking.
“Start easy. Even though a dog might be able to hike 10 miles, they haven’t done that in a while,” she says. “I do 3-4 miles at first and also take them on leash to places like Home Depot, where they can socialize. In general, people understand that shelter dogs need patience and special handling.”
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