January 25, 2026 • 36 mins
Segment 1: We Hike Adventure
.
Get your hiking boots ready! WE HIKE is a non-profit aimed at educating the community on outdoor and hiking safety and getting people to go outside and hike!
.
Amber Banda interviews Lisa Enriquez, President, and Karl Widmer, Outreach Specialist, for WE HIKE Adventure. Lisa came back to El Paso and founded WE HIKE because of her love of the outdoors and to help create a community of hikers. From beginner to experienced, including ADA hikes, WE HIKE is here to get people outside in a safe and fun way.
.
They are having a big community event Saturday Feb 7th at Chuck Heinrich Memorial Park in NE El Paso. The event will be free, from 8am-12pm, and family friendly. They also have regular hikes based on skill levels and according to Karl, the Full Moon hikes are the ones to not miss!
.
For more information go to wehikeadventure.com or find them on Instagram and Facebook @WeHikeAdventure
________________________________________________________________________________
Segment 2: Rescue Runners 915
.
Did you know you can volunteer every Sunday to help walk shelter dogs? If your goals are to get healthier, spend more time with family, save money and/or volunteer for a good cause, you want to be a part of Rescue Runners 915!
.
Amber Banda interviews Ileene Mendoza, President of Rescue Runners. RR works with Animal Services of El Paso to help get doggies out of their kennels every Sunday using all 3 shelter locations. Volunteers just show up ready to walk dogs, (weighing in from 40-60 pounds), for 1 mile, (running optional haha). Take your friends, family, and some good walking shoes, no training required.
.
Walks/runs happen every Sunday from 9-11am in the winter months and from 8-10 am in the summer months. Stay the whole time or not, it's up to you. Walk as many as you'd like!
.
They also have their "Doggy Day Out" event the 3rd Saturday of each month. You can take a doggy home with you for a few hours, even overnight. You can register for this on their website at rescuerunners.org
.
For more information on what location they will be walking the dogs, event information, how to volunteer and more, go to rescuerunners.org for their schedule or follow them on Instagram and Facebook @rescuerunners915
NEW EPISODES EVERY SUNDAY AT 8AM! Follow Amber Banda, 96.3 KHEY Country, Power 102.1 or Sunny 99.9 on Instagram and/or Facebook for pictures of our guests and leave a comment. Be a part of the good going on in our community!
.
Get your hiking boots ready! WE HIKE is a non-profit aimed at educating the community on outdoor and hiking safety and getting people to go outside and hike!
.
Amber Banda interviews Lisa Enriquez, President, and Karl Widmer, Outreach Specialist, for WE HIKE Adventure. Lisa came back to El Paso and founded WE HIKE because of her love of the outdoors and to help create a community of hikers. From beginner to experienced, including ADA hikes, WE HIKE is here to get people outside in a safe and fun way.
.
They are having a big community event Saturday Feb 7th at Chuck Heinrich Memorial Park in NE El Paso. The event will be free, from 8am-12pm, and family friendly. They also have regular hikes based on skill levels and according to Karl, the Full Moon hikes are the ones to not miss!
.
For more information go to wehikeadventure.com or find them on Instagram and Facebook @WeHikeAdventure
________________________________________________________________________________
Segment 2: Rescue Runners 915
.
Did you know you can volunteer every Sunday to help walk shelter dogs? If your goals are to get healthier, spend more time with family, save money and/or volunteer for a good cause, you want to be a part of Rescue Runners 915!
.
Amber Banda interviews Ileene Mendoza, President of Rescue Runners. RR works with Animal Services of El Paso to help get doggies out of their kennels every Sunday using all 3 shelter locations. Volunteers just show up ready to walk dogs, (weighing in from 40-60 pounds), for 1 mile, (running optional haha). Take your friends, family, and some good walking shoes, no training required.
.
Walks/runs happen every Sunday from 9-11am in the winter months and from 8-10 am in the summer months. Stay the whole time or not, it's up to you. Walk as many as you'd like!
.
They also have their "Doggy Day Out" event the 3rd Saturday of each month. You can take a doggy home with you for a few hours, even overnight. You can register for this on their website at rescuerunners.org
.
For more information on what location they will be walking the dogs, event information, how to volunteer and more, go to rescuerunners.org for their schedule or follow them on Instagram and Facebook @rescuerunners915
NEW EPISODES EVERY SUNDAY AT 8AM! Follow Amber Banda, 96.3 KHEY Country, Power 102.1 or Sunny 99.9 on Instagram and/or Facebook for pictures of our guests and leave a comment. Be a part of the good going on in our community!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to our Passo Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexica. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio managers.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I am
your host, Amberbanda, and today we have two members from
we Hike. We have Lisa Enriquez. She is the president
of we Hike. Lisa, thank you for talking with us today.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Thank you for having us here. We're super excited. And
we have Carl Widmer. He is the outreach specialist for
we Hike. Carl, thank you for talking with us today.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Of course, so we Hike That's been one of the
things that I've been thinking about for the past few months.
I do want to go outside, hike more, touch some
more grass. So Lisa, let me ask you what is
this organization and when did it start?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
So we Hike Adventure is our overhead name, and we
Hike so our efforts came public and formal in twenty
twenty three. We Hike Around Profit organization five oh one
C three charity and we are a community outreach, connecting
program organization to bring safety, education and wellness to the community.
(01:22):
Outdoor and hiking safety is super huge and we really
want to get this out. We do none year round activities,
fee free to the community. Anything we have going on
that's on our calendar and our socials is an invitation
to the public at home, as at a whole.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
And you told me that you would come from Phoenix.
You were looking for a hiking community because you had
one out there. You're here in al Passos, So why
did you decide to start an organization like.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
This when we our efforts have been since twenty seventeen
and started in New Mexico learning a lot about the
wilderness and the area out here was super different than
anything we could have ever imagined, really not having the
community with us from Phoenix. We found community in the
(02:15):
hikers and in the public. So after I moved to
Alpasso and decided I was going to stay in al Paso,
that is when we took our efforts public and formal
with the organization alng Ago.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Did you move to Apastle twenty nineteen twenty. Okay, so yeah,
I guess like hiking may have been a bit of
a There may have been a bit of a surge
during COVID, because you couldn't be indoors, right, you had
to like go outdoors and stay you know, distant from
each other. So when you came here, you say, it
started New Mexico, and I know you've done hiking in Phoenix.
What did you think when you came and you saw
(02:49):
like the you know, our Franklin mountains and you saw
the trails here. What were your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
My initial period of coming to Alpaso was my intention
was to learn the Franklin Mountain range. And it was
during COVID where everybody was like absent or not, and
it was the time to get out, the time to
go explore, the time where you could come as you were,
no matter what, because everyone was in the same situation. Yeah,
I don't know that it dawned on me that Alpasso
(03:17):
had this mountain range in the middle of a.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
City for a little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, but it was just an opportunity to get more
people out and just help them learn the ropes about
safety and hiking and what to do.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, honestly, I didn't realize until like twenty twenty that
there was the poppies on the side of our mountain
and it was a thing to go see that I
had no idea. So when you came and you decided
that you wanted to start this organization, like what, like
how did it begin? Like how did you start to
get everyone involved? And how is it grown?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
So we had been doing outreach for and volunteer for
as long as I could remember. I remember I was
in All pass So about thirty something years ago, and
I remember volunteering with my mom downtown feeding the homeless
and having some competition between the men and the women
and our family. And so when we got here in
(04:09):
New Mexico, Chaparral, of all places, we were trying to
just bring people out, show them maybe underserved populations, connecting
the youth, showing people.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Like what to do and where to go.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
So we had I didn't realize for some time until
we opened we hiked that I was in this like
hiking group. And when we decided to try and get
involved with the city more, that's when I realized there's
like all this stuff and all pass, so so we
would privately do things or maybe like cool canyon Nights
(04:41):
or whatever event we could find going on in the museums.
Everything's almost free here, so there's no reason not to explore.
I was like, oh my gosh, there's all this stuff.
And so when we opened it up to the public,
it just almost expanded what our efforts were doing so much.
(05:01):
It was just kind of unreal. So we offered what
we were doing privately, public, privately, during through social groups,
just to the public as a whole.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
And then here we are.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Ye, so you have a pretty good hiking group going
right now, So I would say, yes, we have about
sixty seven volunteers. Wow, we have sixty seven that's on
our current list. So when we think about hiking group,
we are an organization that offers public hiking to the
(05:35):
public at large. So we have people who can come
and go as they want, as they need. So we
have different levels of hiking from eighty eight you can
do your wheelchair on the walk, oh wow, sidewalk to
advance hiking without ropes and everything in between. So it
really one thing about we Hike is that you don't
(05:58):
have to have a membership. You don't have to have
a group, you don't have to be in a private setting.
You can come anybody can come from anywhere and hike
or walk or do any activity with us. We do stewardship,
we do outreach, We do so many different things with
our partners, and we just want to help the community
(06:19):
get out more. So as far as how much is
our group, it's a really tough answer.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Like how many people do you usually have on a
hike or it just depends on the level of difficulty
at the time of year.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So we have anywhere from six people up to one
hundred people.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I wow.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
The max we've had on one hike so far last
year was a hike and Soundbath and we had ninety
seven people at that place at one time and that
was kind of amazing because it was a weekday. And
then we had a hike yesterday and I think there
was like six people.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
So and just so you all know, you know a
couple of things. One Lisa told me her Age, I
don't believe it so that hiking, all that vitamin B,
all that you know, strength training that you do with
your upper and lower body, it's paying off. And now Carl,
I want to ask you a question. How long have
you been involved with this organization and why did you
decide to get involved.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
I got involved when it first started. My reasons was
to lose weight at first intentionally, and then I started
doing other stuff and meeting new people, and I thought
it was fun meeting all the personalities out there.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah. So, I mean there's, you know, so many different
paths for weight loss. Why did you choose hiking as
your form?
Speaker 4 (07:31):
It's, my opinion, is the easiest because we just go
out there, have a good time, look at nature, take photos.
And I really haven't changed how I've been really eating,
and I have lost quite a bit of weight.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You had you done any hiking prior to joining the group?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
No, I just sat home play games.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Really, So what have you like since being in the group.
What benefits have you seen aside from getting out and
losing weight, like the other benefits of it just overall
off the top of my head? Is it?
Speaker 4 (08:03):
It has helped me with my asthma, So I really
couldn't really walk that much at all, and now I'm
doing a few miles at a time and it's nice
and I mean I'm jogging, it's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Oh, woll have you invited friends to go out with you?
You just kind of go and meet new people on
your own. Uh, I do a bit of both. Yeah,
Well you're very I mean you're already outreach specialist for
we Hike Adventures, So that's pretty cool. I'm going to
have to go on a few of these hikes. So again,
if you're just joining us, we have Lisa Enriquez, President
of we Hike Adventure and Carl Widmer, Outreach specialist for
(08:36):
we Hike Adventure. Now, Lisa, I want to touch on
some things that you had mentioned off air. The weather
Ready Nation. What is this and how does it benefit
the community, especially if they are a part of we
Hike Adventure.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
So we just became ambassadors as an organization, and we
have safety programs and classes that we do, whether it's
in the school at the beginning of hike in the
classroom setting. So becoming weather Ready Ambassadors, it's going to
allow us as an organization to get more in depth
(09:10):
training and tools from the experts straight on to our
people in our organization. And then as we go ahead
and show our public what and why we have that
credibility now that we can hope to say hey, guys,
we're not just saying this because we think it. Are
really getting this training and this background, so you know,
(09:32):
whatever we're saying, we hope that you can really just
be safe. And when we are giving you these tips
and these tools to get outside and to go into
the mountain, whether it's a sidewalker in the mountain, you know, hey,
if it looks bright and sunny, and we're saying take
that rain jacket, take the rain jacket.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
So it's weather readiness. It's weather readiness nation, right, yes, okay,
And it's mostly about not just hiking, but also outdoor safety.
So we talked a little bit about people maybe their
trepidations when it goes to hiking is one they don't
know anyone, which you talked about. You know, there's people
that you'll meet there, but also they don't know what
to expect, they don't know how to be safe or
(10:10):
so are there any is there anything that you want
to tell the listening audience as far as look, if
you're thinking about hiking, these are the things that you
might want to consider and come join us.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
So on our website, on our socials, we have a
calendar on our website. We also have like our flyers
are it's listed. We tell people what to bring, what
to prepare, to prepare.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
For each specific hike.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Yeah, and we tell them how much water, you know,
the ten essentials. We invite them to our We give
them a little powow. We when we say beginner friendly,
we're saying if you don't walk, like I was just saying, hey,
you can come from the couch and come out if
we're like the couch potato hike right, Like yeah, So
when we say urban hike, that means we're walking through
(10:57):
the city or on sidewalks.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Oh really, you do hikes through the city as well, not.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Just so everywhere right, city, mountain, wilderness, you know, just
like stewardship.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
You know this.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
If you don't walk a lot, you really don't want
to walk for miles. Hey, guess what come to a stewardship?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
You can you, guys, ever use the buzzle the not
the trail. Yes, oh okay, good, I want to talk
to you about that afterwards. So you can go to
we Hike Adventure on Instagram that's going to have their calendar,
like like she said, they have ongoing events where you
can go and pick out by level of difficulty. If
you want to go by yourself with your family, you know,
be honest with yourself. If it's a hike that you
(11:33):
want to challenge yourself but you've never hiked before, start
with the beginner hike. And we also have we hike
adventure dot org. You can go to that website. And
now with the hikes themselves, you have different events and
you also have a call for volunteers. Can you tell
us a little bit more about volunteering.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yes, absolutely, So we have one percent year round activities
and we are volunteer run.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
So we just developed a team volunteer.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Program that we have rolled out this year, and we
have family volunteers as well. So we have Adventure series
that started this year. It's the first Saturday of each month.
It's one hundred percent free to the community, no public,
no park fees or anything whatsoever. All levels are welcome
to come.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Nice so kids can do it.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Everybody who can walk awesome, and some people who can
roll well.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Yes, because we have.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
An ADA walk for our next one. What does ADA
stand for Americans with disabilities?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Okay, and so we definitely accommodate everybody. Yeah, and so
volunteering could be registering people, sitting at a table, greeting people.
You can just sit there and watch what we're doing
and say hi, yeah, not in verbal if you get shy,
right to take a sign. We have back end work,
(12:50):
We have administration, We have social media. We have everything
out there that you can possibly think of that any
organization needs volunteer with because we are one hundred percent
volunteer run and led.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
That's awesome. Yeah, two things every nonprofit needs volunteers and funding.
So do you have any fundraisers?
Speaker 5 (13:08):
We do? Okay, so we don't have right now.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
We have some merchandise for sale on our website, okay,
and we will be bringing out some fundraisers. I think
in May. March or May will be our first one
and that will be a silent auction, and then we
are working on having a couple more throughout the year.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Okay, nice, I may just have some things for that auction.
And if you want to help, you want to volunteer,
you want to hike again, we hikeadventure dot org on Instagram,
we hike adventure. You can go stay posted on their
fundraising events. They're hikes. Now I'm gonna ask you first Lisa,
then Carl, I'm gonna ask you, is there anything else
that you would like to tell the listening audience?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
So not only did I mention we have the adventure
series is we also have.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
That's the one that's the first Saturday of each month.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Okay, we have our We have one event for the public,
can community event with tabling displays. We have a hike,
ARONO eighty a walk, We'll have some dancing, We'll have some.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Dancing kids, line dancing, you know, to get.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
The line dancing. So anybody listen, I teach line dancing
if you want to.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
We need somewhere to lead that, and we would definitely
have sure So we would love to have that. Everybody
loves it, so we do need volunteers. We want the
public to come out. You bring a chair, you can
sit there, you can enjoy it, Bring a picnic, lunch,
and you'll have so many different interactive things that you
can meet, different partners, different supports. On February seventh. February seventh, okay,
(14:40):
on the northeast at Chuck Hinrich Memorial Park, and it
is eight to noon. And that is super exciting because
if you really want to see what we're doing and
why we're doing it. This is the best place if
you you.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Can come and go.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
You're not committed to being there for two miles, you're
not committed to being there any amount of time. You
can just peek in.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
So again, we're going to have that information on our Instagram.
Power two Sunday, ninety nine point nine ninety six point three,
Ky Country. We'll have the phone numbers, we have the
contact info, we'll have the information what we talked about today. Now, Carl,
is there anything else that you would like to tell
the listening audience.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I would say, if you're gonna come out to any
hike to experience like nature or take photos, or even
just get off the couch or your bed playing games
and say, try to go to the full moon hike.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Oh okay, full moon. And if you're into crystals, take
your crystals. You can recharge them while you're there, right,
that is correct. And take water electrolytes. People are like, eh, no,
take your water. So again, Lisa and Carl, thank you
so much for talking with me today.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Thank you so much for having us, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
For having us.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your
host Amberbanda, and today we have Eileen Mendoza. She is
the president of Rescue Runners to run and walk sheltered doggies. Eileen,
thank you for talking with us today. Thank you for
having me. People always love nonprofits when it comes to
helping the fur baby. So I lean tell us a
(16:06):
little bit more about Rescue Runners.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
So, Rescue Runners is a volunteer led organization and as
the name pretty much says is, we like to we
run shelter dogs. So every week on Sundays is that's
kind of where we Our main thing that we do
is a walk shelter dogs. Right now, we're coordinated with
El Pastum Animal Services. Every Sunday, volunteers sign up and
(16:30):
then they come out and walk shelter dogs.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So you don't have to run with like you can
walk them. Because you hear Rescue Runners, I'm like, I
am not running. I will walk, but I will not run. Correct.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
That's actually one of the first FAQs that we have
on our page because people commonly ask, you know, do
I have to run? And know it's really pretty much
at the speed of the dog. So whatever the dog
wants to do, that's what That's what you can do it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
So I have a little, tiny tired dog.
Speaker 6 (16:53):
Okay, Well that's one of most most of the dogs
that we handle our between forty to sixty pounds and
because those those are the dogs that need it most
there at the shelter.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Oh okay, So rescue runners, you said you work with
Animal Services?
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Correct, Yes, our Sunday runs are with ol Paso Animal Services.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
And where do you walk the dogs? Do you take
them in your vehicle somewhere? Do you walk them somewhere
around the shelter?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
No, we walk them there near the shelter. So our
Sunday runs we have two runs. It alternate between the
main shelter on Fred Wilson and then the new west
Side Adoption centered. So those are kind of like the
bigger groups that walk, and they do about about a
mile and change is the trail and it's guided just
by signs and arrows and cones that we have directing
(17:35):
people volunteers on the route. There's also a water stop
and a treat stop on the route, so the dogs
do get a chance to stop drink some water and
get some treats and then continue on along their walk.
And then the Mission Valley Mission Valley Adoption Center down
on SoCoRo Road, we also do at the same time
that we're running the bigger runs. We have a group
of volunteers that are also at that location, but they're
(17:57):
not able to really leave. There's a park right behind that,
and so they take the dogs out. There's only about
twenty five dogs at that location, but they do take
the dogs out and then they're able to walk around
the park. So there's of course there's trees, benches, there's
playground everything there. So even if you have smaller kids
and you take them, they can play on the playground
while you know you're walking the dog. But it's all
everybody stays there at the park area. Okay, really a
(18:18):
long that one's not a long distance run. It's more
of just like getting them out of the cano.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So all three locations they do them every Sunday at
the same time.
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Yes, every Sunday at the same time, but the main,
the one on fred Wilson and the one on the
West Side, they alternate every other weekend. So like this
this weekend, we were running at the main at the
fred Wilson location, okay, and then this coming Sunday we'll
be at the West Side oh, I just go back
and forth.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
So if it's not at fred Wilson, So if it's
at fred Wilson, it's not going to be on the
west side. And oh okay, I see, I see.
Speaker 6 (18:45):
But the Mission Valley runs every single Sunday at the
same location.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Oh okay, I forgot that they had a new location.
So if people wanted to come and run or walk
with the shelter dogs, is there any kind of training
that they have to go through? Not necessarily training.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
When they come, we go ahead and give them kind
of a briefing on how the how the route's going
to go, and just kind of some key tips to
keep everybody as organized as possible. But really the information
that you would need to know is kind of in
the sign up, which is like I had said, it's
the dogs are between forty to sixty pounds. You will
be walking a mile, You're gonna you need to wear
long pants, you know, comfortable shoes that you can walk in,
(19:21):
things like that. So it's mainly just being prepared for
a walk that will take some energy out of you,
and then just to be prepared for the size of
the dog. And so when you get you can also
pair up so like, if you have a friend you
want to go with, if you're a little bit nervous
about taking such a big dog, take drag, Take drag.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
I always say drag because that's what I say.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
It's a volunteer.
Speaker 6 (19:40):
When people get to show up, hey, I'm like, who
did you drag with you today? Because it takes a
little bit of convincing sometimes, but yeah, so if you
want to drag a friend with you, a family member
to come out with you, that weak and it's fine
because you can as you're walking along, you can chit
chat and it makes it just makes an event out
of it. We have even had we've had children come
and volunteers come that actually are spending their birthday with us.
(20:03):
So they're like, I'm here today because it's my birthday.
So I had I wanted on my family friends. I
asked them to come volunteer as my birthday presiday.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
So it's really it's really sweet. Yeah, well, my daughter
she's going to be turning eleven next month and it's
there at Animal Services. But she's a cat person, so
she's gonna for her birthday she wants to go and
volunteer at Animal Services. So that's a really cool idea.
So you were saying that every Sunday from nine to eleven,
and again it alternates this except in SoCoRo wards every Sunday.
(20:31):
So do you have to stay for the whole nine
to eleven or is it just however long it takes
for you to do that mile with the doggie?
Speaker 6 (20:40):
Both you can't, So like the answer is both. So
you can show up at nine, walk your one dog,
and if that's all you want to do is one mile,
then you're done. But after you walk your one dog,
if you want to get in line and grab another dog,
you can do something. So we basically we're they're from
nine to eleven. If you choose to stay longer and
help us walk more dogs, that's more dogs that get
out of the can. So for example, we range between
(21:02):
We've been averaging about seventy volunteers every week, so but
we're walking. This weekend, we walked one hundred and thirty dogs,
so that means that multiple of a lot of those
people walk got in line again for a second, a
second lap.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
There's that many dogs as they were all right, Yes.
Speaker 6 (21:17):
Animal Services has the highest population of animals.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I mean they're the municipal they're the city shelter.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
They're the ones that have to take everybody strays, any
dog that comes to their door, they are required they
are required to take it. So that's why the population
there is so high. Where all the private organizations they
can close their doors when they get to their capacity,
say it's seventy five dogs or whatever it is, they
can close their doors and say go to Animal Services.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, so Animal Services.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Gets all of the overflow, which is why why they
have so many dogs, which is why we focus our
our efforts there.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, no, it makes sense. And how long have you
been a part of Rescue Runners.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
We actually originally started Rescue Runners in twenty fourteen, but
we started with up Animal Services in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Oh so what were you doing before? Like before you were.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Smaller, smaller lokay, smaller shelter.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Oh okay, nice, That's why did you decide to like
be a part of doing this.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
I would say, just I've a runner in my past years.
I don't run a lot now, but I had a
little back injury, but I was previously an avid runner,
and so I think part of volunteering is you kind
of use those skills that come natural to you, and
it because it helps you to you know, you, if
you're enjoying doing it, obviously you're going to have fun volunteering.
So I started volunteering with and of course I love dogs,
(22:34):
I love all animals. But I was volunteering at the
animal shelter and I was helping with adoptions and things
like that. And I just one day I was walking
down the kennel aisle and you know, it's just like
forty dogs barking at you all at the same time.
They're just jumping up at their kennels, and I just
like look straight in their eyes and I just again,
I know that they're not talking English, speaking English, but
(22:56):
I just felt them, you know, they're just like, just
get me out of here, just getting me out of here,
Take me out of here. But of course there's forty
of them looking at you saying get me out here.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
You can't take.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
Them all, so you do what you can. And so
what I could do is I could take them for
a walk. So I just grab a leash, took one out,
come back, and it took you know, about a mile
is about fifteen minutes. Since you come back, you can
grab the next one. And so that means you can
do about four an hour. And so, being like I said,
having the running background, I was like, well, you know
that runner community is pretty big. Yeah, so I was like, well,
I can run four an hour. You know, if I
(23:26):
bring five friends with me, that's twenty an hour. If
I can convince you know, drag or convinting with.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
All the math things, yeah, yeah, what is it dog
dog rescue in her math rescue run around there you go.
If I can bring ten friends, that's forty dogs an hour.
So you know it's on. So that's why I that's
the how I started it is.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
I just put it out to rescue to runners and said,
if anybody wants to come run, help me run dogs.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
And so that's pretty much where it starts.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Oh that's cool.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
It kind of just grew organically. So again, if you're
just tuning in, we have Eileen Mendosa. She is the
president of Rescue Runners. They run and walk shelter dogs
so you don't have to run. So I want to
get into some of the benefits, even though they may
seem pretty obvious. First of all, for the dogs, what
is the benefit of taking a doggie on that even
(24:12):
if it's just once a week on that walk.
Speaker 6 (24:15):
Well, it is a court, it's enrichment for them. Again,
back to the shelter situation, they are pretty much in
their kennels twenty four seven. Unless a volunteer comes to
take them out or if they get out for an
enrichment activity that that team is able to pull them out,
they stay in their kennel twenty four seven. So obviously
getting out of the getting out of the kennel definitely helps,
(24:36):
just like we talk about mental health with us humans,
moving the body definitely helps.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It's the same thing for their dogs.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
And also not to get to graphic on you, but
of course walking also stimulates the digestive system. So a
lot of the dogs, unfortunately, they suffer from stomach issues, diarrhea,
that kind of stuff when they're in the shelter because
they're in there all the time.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
And most most dogs, as you.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Know, most dogs, as you know, they don't like to
go where they stay and eat and things like that,
so a lot of them will hold it and they
will as much as possible, and of course that causes
them that that disruption to their digestive system. So as
soon as they get out of the canel, of course,
the first thing they do is, you know, we have
to we have definitely have a big but supply of
poopy bags. There you go. Yeah, people come to their
check ins, to their checking station for the dogs. Eh yeah, yeah,
(25:26):
they signed the waiver and we're like, here's your puppy bags.
We automatically tell you, and we have a lot of
buckets along the route because we know that that's going
to happen. But again, even even though it's stinky, you
see how that it is helping them. You know, even
just that physical is helping them to get flowing and moving,
which is something that you know they're there. It's they're
an animal they need so again, like I said, not
to get to graphic, that makes a lot. So mentally
(25:49):
it helps them. Physically, it helps them. And then of
course anytime that they are out of the kennel and
not sitting in there, they're seeing members of the public.
Every chance opportunity they get to say a member of
the public is a chance for them to get adopted
and get out of that shelter. Yeah, so it doesn't
mean that of course, don't be scared just ad by
saying that you have to come and volunteer doesn't mean
that you have to bring every dog home. That's actually
(26:09):
why most of us do volunteer because we know we
can't take every dog home, but we do what we can.
You want, and so what we can is we can
help the ones that are there at the shelter and
we can help walk them, help get them seen, help,
And yeah, it does tug on your heartstrings, but again,
we just have to we're looking at the dog, putting
the dog first and seeing what we can do for them.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, and not only that, but I think when you
walk through the shelter and like you said, those dogs
are in their twenty four to seven and not completely
on the same bar. But like if you're a person,
say you're in your room twenty four to seven, you know,
and say you've been in there for a week and
someone comes to your door, they're not going to meet
the best representation of your RYE because you're like, you're upset,
(26:50):
you're frustrated, you're going you know. It's so it's like
I think it also helps them get adopted, not only
because more people are seeing them, but because if someone
comes in after they've been freshly walked or the day
after whatever they're seeing, maybe a more calm dog, a
dog that's not going stir crazy because they're in their kennel.
So you are really helping to get these dogs adopted.
(27:10):
And there's benefits to the human that's walking too, right,
especially the beginning of the year, people want to get healthier,
and I think walking is super underrated. People think that
they got to go sprint, they got to go right,
do cross it? No, Like, as a former fitness professional,
walking is just one of the best things you can do,
especially in the morning, especially outdoors, and especially when you're
(27:31):
helping someone. So I mean the obvious benefits, right, what
is it? They're tenfold? Yes, there it is. You know,
get out, get your ten thousand steps or whatever out
of the way. You're doing good. You can go have
breakfast afterward, drag your friend or your husband or whatever
with you, and so I think that's a really good date,
good thing to an added benefit for the human for
the doggies. Now let's talk about the schedule. So every
(27:51):
Sunday nine to eleven a year, winter hours, yes, because
of you know the temperature in summer eight to ten am.
And then of course you can always find them on
Instagram and Facebook at Rescue Runners nine one five, so
you can see where they're going to be what location.
But you also said that you have an event the
third Saturday of every month. Tell us about Doggy day Out.
Speaker 6 (28:12):
Doggy Day Out is another fun event that again grew
organically out of rescue Runners. It's just basic rescue runners.
You get to take the dug out for thirty to
forty five minutes and then people bring the doug back
and they always say, you know, oh I don't want
to say goodbye it I'm not you know, I'm not
done enjoying them. Okay, well here take them out for
the day.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Oh like you can take them home and and stuff
over there. Yes, so for all.
Speaker 6 (28:32):
So the way doggy yaut works is you sign up
to uh take a dog out for the day. Basically
make a dog's day, take them out, take them for
a pub cup, take them to to get a hat
for a.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
High pub boks right Starbucks.
Speaker 6 (28:43):
Starbucks does the pub ub and you again you could
we see a lot of people taking the pet smart.
They take them to the bath where you can wash
them yourself. Oh yeah, so they take them to the
little they take them a little places get them the bath,
taking the PetSmart, grab a toy. But even if you don't,
there's no requirement.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
That you have to go out.
Speaker 6 (29:00):
You know, if say you're not more, you're not a
person that likes to do extra extrovert activities, you can
just take them home. A lot of times when I
pick up the dogs for doggie d out, we just
go to the house and I'm you know, it's my
yard day, and so I'm like, okay, come out, and
so I put my my babies stay in the house
and they're you know, I put them in the bedroom
and then this dog pretty much gets run of the house,
and so I let them out in the yard and
I'm like, okay, so I'm working on the.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yard and they're just sniffing around doing their thing and
join just.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Being a dog.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
They get to just breathe and let loose and like, okay,
you know, I don't have to be with all the
other dogs, all that noise, barking. We do get a
lot of them too that they as soon as they
get out of the shelter, once they get into the yard,
and they then they kind of just take a nap
because it's they're just it's a decompression.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
They're decompressive body from all.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Of that stuff. And then so they run around the
yard and stuff. And then before we leave, we do
some couch time. You can just say you want to
just do Netflix and Binge, bring them in the house
and then you can even just watch movies cut al
on the couch and again they're probably gonna sleep some more.
But that all that just let's their bodies reset, reset,
decompress before they have to go back to the shelter.
(30:04):
And again, I know that sometimes it is a sad situation.
I don't want to take them back, but the benefits
of them being out with you far away, they would
have just been sitting in the kennel the whole time
that day anyways, So doggy do is again, so you
have to focus on the positive things. Think of all
the good things that you're doing for their dog. They're
getting out of their kennel, they're getting time to decompress,
and again they're getting seen by the public. It's not
(30:26):
just the volunteer that's getting to see them, like while
they're out on a walk, they're actually going out into
the community. Your people are going to see them at
pet smart.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
If you take them.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
They can pretty much go to any restaurant where there's
a patio, so anybody there that that that restaurant is
going to see the dog as soon as they make
I kind oh a dog. And you can say they're
for adoption.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
You know, callars or something that they were that say
up for adoption. They do.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
They wear the bandanas that say adopt me on them,
and then we have sometimes their harnesses, we have velcro
straps on them that say adopt me.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Also on their LEAs strap that says the dog. Oh
my god.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
So it's like a little walking little billboard, you know,
I'm up for adoption.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
So yeah, so that's a lot of fun. That's the
third Saturday of every month. So as of the airing
of this interview, the next one is going to be
February twenty first, and they can take them all night
or you have the option.
Speaker 6 (31:13):
The daytime option is eight am and then you return
between two to three pm, okay, and then if you
choose to do an overnight, you again still pick them
up at eight am on Saturday and then you would
return them at twelve noon on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
There you go, and is that at all three locations We.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
Rotate every month, so every month it's at a different location.
Oh okay, okay, So the one on the twenty first,
what location will that twenty first will be at the
Mission Valley location in Socorro.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Okay. Oh that's awesome. And again, if you want more,
if you want to stay up to date and current
with everything that they're doing at Rescue Runners nine to
one to five on Instagram and Facebook, you can also
go to Rescue Runners dot org. This has been really cool.
I think I'm going to try to do the February
twenty because my little one, she's been well, she wants
a snake, right, but I mean that's fine with me.
(31:59):
But she likes dogs, she likes cats, So maybe doing
that and not only that, but stress relief. There's studies
that have been proven. I'm not talking about the dog,
I'm talking about the human. If you pet an animal
and you can take care of an animal, that's a
big stress relief for you too. And there's a lot
of kids that have come out of their shell that
maybe have autism or ADHD or anxiety, and you may
(32:20):
find that if you try this walking them or doing
the doggy day out, maybe a furry companion is what
one of your family members need. So, Eileen, is there
anything else that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 6 (32:32):
Well, just what you were just mentioning regarding like being
being good with children. So as the dogs are out
on their doggy day out, basically, all we know about
the dog.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Is what we know in their kennel.
Speaker 6 (32:42):
Okay, they you know, they are excited, they like to jump,
you know, that's pretty much it. Once we get them
out of their cannel and they get to go to
a home and they can interact with people's children then
and you know.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
We get stories. They feel that little doggie out report
cards and we find out you know, the people will
come back. But they were so good with my kids.
Speaker 6 (32:58):
She was so gentle with my daughter, or my son
likes my son likes. My son likes to play baseball.
And so they played fetch out in the backyard and
he was like he got he got to fetch right away.
I mean there's it's even some dogs that come in
they don't even know what a toy is. So it's
it's but yet this dog, oh he knows how to
play fetch, you know. So it just you never know
what the dog knows until you get them out of
(33:19):
out of the shelter, and so you get to see
those things about them. Some of them come back and
they say they know how to sit down, roll over, stay,
they knew all of the commands, and we're like, what,
we didn't even know that. They show a completely different
personality outside than they do inside the shelter. For some
of them have been you know, really really shy and
the things that we've never known about them. And then
the people come back and they they're like, oh, yeah,
(33:39):
look at him, look at and they take a bunch
of pictures with a dog, you know, all happy and
relax and everything, and so we know we know that
that dog is not showing their true self inside the shelter,
and those pictures and those experiences that we can share
with the public help us to get them at a
home because we know.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
They're not they're not really like this. You just need
to get them out and they completely you know it
real quick. I know, like for when you're going to
walk them on Sundays, it's just you show up. But
if they're going to do a doggy day out, is
there any kind of registration or anything someone else to
do the registration question.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
We ask you other questions during the registration portion, so
we asked do you know this is when when they're
signing up, So when they're sign up, we already asked them,
you know, do you have children? Are you planning to
do a relaxed day or do you want to do
a doggie or an adventurous day, So we also know
which kind of dog to assign them, okay, and then
when they get to the shelter, we also have a
Doggedy outfield trip guide that we go over and kind
(34:29):
of give them, like the again back to the dos
and dones of where they can take them. And also
just to be aware of the comfortability of your dog
when they're out, you know, make sure that they're staying hydrated,
make sure you're giving them water, watching them also to
how they sometimes they aren't comfortable in public. So if
you take them to a restaurant, a busy restaurant patio
and they're you know kind of like, Okay, I'm not
ready for this yet, maybe you want to take them
(34:50):
out of that situation and maybe just go to the
park and walk around because they don't have to be
it's not so hustle and bustle there as like a
restaurant would be. So it's really about watching the comfortability
of your dog and just making sure that they're enjoying there.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
To fit your lifestyle. And where do people sign up
for that? Also at Rescue runners dot org. Rescue our
homepage has our.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Regular Sunday schedule events and then there's a tab that
says Doggy Day Out and then that would be where
the information for Doggy Y out and then where we
have the sign up link for every month.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
Oh okay, this is perfect, So you can sign up
at Rescue runners dot org. That is amazing. And again
that information will also be available on Poto two point
one sending that at nine point nine and ninety six
point three k Hey Country on our Instagram and Facebook. Eileen,
thank you so much for talking with us today.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Thank you you've been listening to El Paso Public Forum,
a weekly public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Paso. If you,
your organization or event would like to be featured on
an upcoming program, please email to ep Forum at iHeartMedia
dot com or call us at nine one five three
five one five four zero zero. Tune in again next
(35:50):
week for another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The
preceding program was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio L Paso.
Welcome to our Passo Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexica. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio managers.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I am
your host, Amberbanda, and today we have two members from
we Hike. We have Lisa Enriquez. She is the president
of we Hike. Lisa, thank you for talking with us today.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Thank you for having us here. We're super excited. And
we have Carl Widmer. He is the outreach specialist for
we Hike. Carl, thank you for talking with us today.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Of course, so we Hike That's been one of the
things that I've been thinking about for the past few months.
I do want to go outside, hike more, touch some
more grass. So Lisa, let me ask you what is
this organization and when did it start?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
So we Hike Adventure is our overhead name, and we
Hike so our efforts came public and formal in twenty
twenty three. We Hike Around Profit organization five oh one
C three charity and we are a community outreach, connecting
program organization to bring safety, education and wellness to the community.
(01:22):
Outdoor and hiking safety is super huge and we really
want to get this out. We do none year round activities,
fee free to the community. Anything we have going on
that's on our calendar and our socials is an invitation
to the public at home, as at a whole.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
And you told me that you would come from Phoenix.
You were looking for a hiking community because you had
one out there. You're here in al Passos, So why
did you decide to start an organization like.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
This when we our efforts have been since twenty seventeen
and started in New Mexico learning a lot about the
wilderness and the area out here was super different than
anything we could have ever imagined, really not having the
community with us from Phoenix. We found community in the
(02:15):
hikers and in the public. So after I moved to
Alpasso and decided I was going to stay in al Paso,
that is when we took our efforts public and formal
with the organization alng Ago.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Did you move to Apastle twenty nineteen twenty. Okay, so yeah,
I guess like hiking may have been a bit of
a There may have been a bit of a surge
during COVID, because you couldn't be indoors, right, you had
to like go outdoors and stay you know, distant from
each other. So when you came here, you say, it
started New Mexico, and I know you've done hiking in Phoenix.
What did you think when you came and you saw
(02:49):
like the you know, our Franklin mountains and you saw
the trails here. What were your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
My initial period of coming to Alpaso was my intention
was to learn the Franklin Mountain range. And it was
during COVID where everybody was like absent or not, and
it was the time to get out, the time to
go explore, the time where you could come as you were,
no matter what, because everyone was in the same situation. Yeah,
I don't know that it dawned on me that Alpasso
(03:17):
had this mountain range in the middle of a.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
City for a little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, but it was just an opportunity to get more
people out and just help them learn the ropes about
safety and hiking and what to do.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, honestly, I didn't realize until like twenty twenty that
there was the poppies on the side of our mountain
and it was a thing to go see that I
had no idea. So when you came and you decided
that you wanted to start this organization, like what, like
how did it begin? Like how did you start to
get everyone involved? And how is it grown?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
So we had been doing outreach for and volunteer for
as long as I could remember. I remember I was
in All pass So about thirty something years ago, and
I remember volunteering with my mom downtown feeding the homeless
and having some competition between the men and the women
and our family. And so when we got here in
(04:09):
New Mexico, Chaparral, of all places, we were trying to
just bring people out, show them maybe underserved populations, connecting
the youth, showing people.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Like what to do and where to go.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
So we had I didn't realize for some time until
we opened we hiked that I was in this like
hiking group. And when we decided to try and get
involved with the city more, that's when I realized there's
like all this stuff and all pass, so so we
would privately do things or maybe like cool canyon Nights
(04:41):
or whatever event we could find going on in the museums.
Everything's almost free here, so there's no reason not to explore.
I was like, oh my gosh, there's all this stuff.
And so when we opened it up to the public,
it just almost expanded what our efforts were doing so much.
(05:01):
It was just kind of unreal. So we offered what
we were doing privately, public, privately, during through social groups,
just to the public as a whole.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
And then here we are.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Ye, so you have a pretty good hiking group going
right now, So I would say, yes, we have about
sixty seven volunteers. Wow, we have sixty seven that's on
our current list. So when we think about hiking group,
we are an organization that offers public hiking to the
(05:35):
public at large. So we have people who can come
and go as they want, as they need. So we
have different levels of hiking from eighty eight you can
do your wheelchair on the walk, oh wow, sidewalk to
advance hiking without ropes and everything in between. So it
really one thing about we Hike is that you don't
(05:58):
have to have a membership. You don't have to have
a group, you don't have to be in a private setting.
You can come anybody can come from anywhere and hike
or walk or do any activity with us. We do stewardship,
we do outreach, We do so many different things with
our partners, and we just want to help the community
(06:19):
get out more. So as far as how much is
our group, it's a really tough answer.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Like how many people do you usually have on a
hike or it just depends on the level of difficulty
at the time of year.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So we have anywhere from six people up to one
hundred people.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I wow.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
The max we've had on one hike so far last
year was a hike and Soundbath and we had ninety
seven people at that place at one time and that
was kind of amazing because it was a weekday. And
then we had a hike yesterday and I think there
was like six people.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
So and just so you all know, you know a
couple of things. One Lisa told me her Age, I
don't believe it so that hiking, all that vitamin B,
all that you know, strength training that you do with
your upper and lower body, it's paying off. And now Carl,
I want to ask you a question. How long have
you been involved with this organization and why did you
decide to get involved.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
I got involved when it first started. My reasons was
to lose weight at first intentionally, and then I started
doing other stuff and meeting new people, and I thought
it was fun meeting all the personalities out there.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah. So, I mean there's, you know, so many different
paths for weight loss. Why did you choose hiking as
your form?
Speaker 4 (07:31):
It's, my opinion, is the easiest because we just go
out there, have a good time, look at nature, take photos.
And I really haven't changed how I've been really eating,
and I have lost quite a bit of weight.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You had you done any hiking prior to joining the group?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
No, I just sat home play games.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Really, So what have you like since being in the group.
What benefits have you seen aside from getting out and
losing weight, like the other benefits of it just overall
off the top of my head? Is it?
Speaker 4 (08:03):
It has helped me with my asthma, So I really
couldn't really walk that much at all, and now I'm
doing a few miles at a time and it's nice
and I mean I'm jogging, it's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Oh, woll have you invited friends to go out with you?
You just kind of go and meet new people on
your own. Uh, I do a bit of both. Yeah,
Well you're very I mean you're already outreach specialist for
we Hike Adventures, So that's pretty cool. I'm going to
have to go on a few of these hikes. So again,
if you're just joining us, we have Lisa Enriquez, President
of we Hike Adventure and Carl Widmer, Outreach specialist for
(08:36):
we Hike Adventure. Now, Lisa, I want to touch on
some things that you had mentioned off air. The weather
Ready Nation. What is this and how does it benefit
the community, especially if they are a part of we
Hike Adventure.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
So we just became ambassadors as an organization, and we
have safety programs and classes that we do, whether it's
in the school at the beginning of hike in the
classroom setting. So becoming weather Ready Ambassadors, it's going to
allow us as an organization to get more in depth
(09:10):
training and tools from the experts straight on to our
people in our organization. And then as we go ahead
and show our public what and why we have that
credibility now that we can hope to say hey, guys,
we're not just saying this because we think it. Are
really getting this training and this background, so you know,
(09:32):
whatever we're saying, we hope that you can really just
be safe. And when we are giving you these tips
and these tools to get outside and to go into
the mountain, whether it's a sidewalker in the mountain, you know, hey,
if it looks bright and sunny, and we're saying take
that rain jacket, take the rain jacket.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
So it's weather readiness. It's weather readiness nation, right, yes, okay,
And it's mostly about not just hiking, but also outdoor safety.
So we talked a little bit about people maybe their
trepidations when it goes to hiking is one they don't
know anyone, which you talked about. You know, there's people
that you'll meet there, but also they don't know what
to expect, they don't know how to be safe or
(10:10):
so are there any is there anything that you want
to tell the listening audience as far as look, if
you're thinking about hiking, these are the things that you
might want to consider and come join us.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
So on our website, on our socials, we have a
calendar on our website. We also have like our flyers
are it's listed. We tell people what to bring, what
to prepare, to prepare.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
For each specific hike.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Yeah, and we tell them how much water, you know,
the ten essentials. We invite them to our We give
them a little powow. We when we say beginner friendly,
we're saying if you don't walk, like I was just saying, hey,
you can come from the couch and come out if
we're like the couch potato hike right, Like yeah, So
when we say urban hike, that means we're walking through
(10:57):
the city or on sidewalks.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Oh really, you do hikes through the city as well, not.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Just so everywhere right, city, mountain, wilderness, you know, just
like stewardship.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
You know this.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
If you don't walk a lot, you really don't want
to walk for miles. Hey, guess what come to a stewardship?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
You can you, guys, ever use the buzzle the not
the trail. Yes, oh okay, good, I want to talk
to you about that afterwards. So you can go to
we Hike Adventure on Instagram that's going to have their calendar,
like like she said, they have ongoing events where you
can go and pick out by level of difficulty. If
you want to go by yourself with your family, you know,
be honest with yourself. If it's a hike that you
(11:33):
want to challenge yourself but you've never hiked before, start
with the beginner hike. And we also have we hike
adventure dot org. You can go to that website. And
now with the hikes themselves, you have different events and
you also have a call for volunteers. Can you tell
us a little bit more about volunteering.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yes, absolutely, So we have one percent year round activities
and we are volunteer run.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
So we just developed a team volunteer.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Program that we have rolled out this year, and we
have family volunteers as well. So we have Adventure series
that started this year. It's the first Saturday of each month.
It's one hundred percent free to the community, no public,
no park fees or anything whatsoever. All levels are welcome
to come.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Nice so kids can do it.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Everybody who can walk awesome, and some people who can
roll well.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Yes, because we have.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
An ADA walk for our next one. What does ADA
stand for Americans with disabilities?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Okay, and so we definitely accommodate everybody. Yeah, and so
volunteering could be registering people, sitting at a table, greeting people.
You can just sit there and watch what we're doing
and say hi, yeah, not in verbal if you get shy,
right to take a sign. We have back end work,
(12:50):
We have administration, We have social media. We have everything
out there that you can possibly think of that any
organization needs volunteer with because we are one hundred percent
volunteer run and led.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
That's awesome. Yeah, two things every nonprofit needs volunteers and funding.
So do you have any fundraisers?
Speaker 5 (13:08):
We do? Okay, so we don't have right now.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
We have some merchandise for sale on our website, okay,
and we will be bringing out some fundraisers. I think
in May. March or May will be our first one
and that will be a silent auction, and then we
are working on having a couple more throughout the year.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Okay, nice, I may just have some things for that auction.
And if you want to help, you want to volunteer,
you want to hike again, we hikeadventure dot org on Instagram,
we hike adventure. You can go stay posted on their
fundraising events. They're hikes. Now I'm gonna ask you first Lisa,
then Carl, I'm gonna ask you, is there anything else
that you would like to tell the listening audience?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
So not only did I mention we have the adventure
series is we also have.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
That's the one that's the first Saturday of each month.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Okay, we have our We have one event for the public,
can community event with tabling displays. We have a hike,
ARONO eighty a walk, We'll have some dancing, We'll have some.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Dancing kids, line dancing, you know, to get.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
The line dancing. So anybody listen, I teach line dancing
if you want to.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
We need somewhere to lead that, and we would definitely
have sure So we would love to have that. Everybody
loves it, so we do need volunteers. We want the
public to come out. You bring a chair, you can
sit there, you can enjoy it, Bring a picnic, lunch,
and you'll have so many different interactive things that you
can meet, different partners, different supports. On February seventh. February seventh, okay,
(14:40):
on the northeast at Chuck Hinrich Memorial Park, and it
is eight to noon. And that is super exciting because
if you really want to see what we're doing and
why we're doing it. This is the best place if
you you.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Can come and go.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
You're not committed to being there for two miles, you're
not committed to being there any amount of time. You
can just peek in.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
So again, we're going to have that information on our Instagram.
Power two Sunday, ninety nine point nine ninety six point three,
Ky Country. We'll have the phone numbers, we have the
contact info, we'll have the information what we talked about today. Now, Carl,
is there anything else that you would like to tell
the listening audience.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I would say, if you're gonna come out to any
hike to experience like nature or take photos, or even
just get off the couch or your bed playing games
and say, try to go to the full moon hike.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Oh okay, full moon. And if you're into crystals, take
your crystals. You can recharge them while you're there, right,
that is correct. And take water electrolytes. People are like, eh, no,
take your water. So again, Lisa and Carl, thank you
so much for talking with me today.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Thank you so much for having us, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
For having us.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your
host Amberbanda, and today we have Eileen Mendoza. She is
the president of Rescue Runners to run and walk sheltered doggies. Eileen,
thank you for talking with us today. Thank you for
having me. People always love nonprofits when it comes to
helping the fur baby. So I lean tell us a
(16:06):
little bit more about Rescue Runners.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
So, Rescue Runners is a volunteer led organization and as
the name pretty much says is, we like to we
run shelter dogs. So every week on Sundays is that's
kind of where we Our main thing that we do
is a walk shelter dogs. Right now, we're coordinated with
El Pastum Animal Services. Every Sunday, volunteers sign up and
(16:30):
then they come out and walk shelter dogs.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So you don't have to run with like you can
walk them. Because you hear Rescue Runners, I'm like, I
am not running. I will walk, but I will not run. Correct.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
That's actually one of the first FAQs that we have
on our page because people commonly ask, you know, do
I have to run? And know it's really pretty much
at the speed of the dog. So whatever the dog
wants to do, that's what That's what you can do it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
So I have a little, tiny tired dog.
Speaker 6 (16:53):
Okay, Well that's one of most most of the dogs
that we handle our between forty to sixty pounds and
because those those are the dogs that need it most
there at the shelter.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Oh okay, So rescue runners, you said you work with
Animal Services?
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Correct, Yes, our Sunday runs are with ol Paso Animal Services.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
And where do you walk the dogs? Do you take
them in your vehicle somewhere? Do you walk them somewhere
around the shelter?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
No, we walk them there near the shelter. So our
Sunday runs we have two runs. It alternate between the
main shelter on Fred Wilson and then the new west
Side Adoption centered. So those are kind of like the
bigger groups that walk, and they do about about a
mile and change is the trail and it's guided just
by signs and arrows and cones that we have directing
(17:35):
people volunteers on the route. There's also a water stop
and a treat stop on the route, so the dogs
do get a chance to stop drink some water and
get some treats and then continue on along their walk.
And then the Mission Valley Mission Valley Adoption Center down
on SoCoRo Road, we also do at the same time
that we're running the bigger runs. We have a group
of volunteers that are also at that location, but they're
(17:57):
not able to really leave. There's a park right behind that,
and so they take the dogs out. There's only about
twenty five dogs at that location, but they do take
the dogs out and then they're able to walk around
the park. So there's of course there's trees, benches, there's
playground everything there. So even if you have smaller kids
and you take them, they can play on the playground
while you know you're walking the dog. But it's all
everybody stays there at the park area. Okay, really a
(18:18):
long that one's not a long distance run. It's more
of just like getting them out of the cano.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So all three locations they do them every Sunday at
the same time.
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Yes, every Sunday at the same time, but the main,
the one on fred Wilson and the one on the
West Side, they alternate every other weekend. So like this
this weekend, we were running at the main at the
fred Wilson location, okay, and then this coming Sunday we'll
be at the West Side oh, I just go back
and forth.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
So if it's not at fred Wilson, So if it's
at fred Wilson, it's not going to be on the
west side. And oh okay, I see, I see.
Speaker 6 (18:45):
But the Mission Valley runs every single Sunday at the
same location.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Oh okay, I forgot that they had a new location.
So if people wanted to come and run or walk
with the shelter dogs, is there any kind of training
that they have to go through? Not necessarily training.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
When they come, we go ahead and give them kind
of a briefing on how the how the route's going
to go, and just kind of some key tips to
keep everybody as organized as possible. But really the information
that you would need to know is kind of in
the sign up, which is like I had said, it's
the dogs are between forty to sixty pounds. You will
be walking a mile, You're gonna you need to wear
long pants, you know, comfortable shoes that you can walk in,
(19:21):
things like that. So it's mainly just being prepared for
a walk that will take some energy out of you,
and then just to be prepared for the size of
the dog. And so when you get you can also
pair up so like, if you have a friend you
want to go with, if you're a little bit nervous
about taking such a big dog, take drag, Take drag.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
I always say drag because that's what I say.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
It's a volunteer.
Speaker 6 (19:40):
When people get to show up, hey, I'm like, who
did you drag with you today? Because it takes a
little bit of convincing sometimes, but yeah, so if you
want to drag a friend with you, a family member
to come out with you, that weak and it's fine
because you can as you're walking along, you can chit
chat and it makes it just makes an event out
of it. We have even had we've had children come
and volunteers come that actually are spending their birthday with us.
(20:03):
So they're like, I'm here today because it's my birthday.
So I had I wanted on my family friends. I
asked them to come volunteer as my birthday presiday.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
So it's really it's really sweet. Yeah, well, my daughter
she's going to be turning eleven next month and it's
there at Animal Services. But she's a cat person, so
she's gonna for her birthday she wants to go and
volunteer at Animal Services. So that's a really cool idea.
So you were saying that every Sunday from nine to eleven,
and again it alternates this except in SoCoRo wards every Sunday.
(20:31):
So do you have to stay for the whole nine
to eleven or is it just however long it takes
for you to do that mile with the doggie?
Speaker 6 (20:40):
Both you can't, So like the answer is both. So
you can show up at nine, walk your one dog,
and if that's all you want to do is one mile,
then you're done. But after you walk your one dog,
if you want to get in line and grab another dog,
you can do something. So we basically we're they're from
nine to eleven. If you choose to stay longer and
help us walk more dogs, that's more dogs that get
out of the can. So for example, we range between
(21:02):
We've been averaging about seventy volunteers every week, so but
we're walking. This weekend, we walked one hundred and thirty dogs,
so that means that multiple of a lot of those
people walk got in line again for a second, a
second lap.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
There's that many dogs as they were all right, Yes.
Speaker 6 (21:17):
Animal Services has the highest population of animals.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I mean they're the municipal they're the city shelter.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
They're the ones that have to take everybody strays, any
dog that comes to their door, they are required they
are required to take it. So that's why the population
there is so high. Where all the private organizations they
can close their doors when they get to their capacity,
say it's seventy five dogs or whatever it is, they
can close their doors and say go to Animal Services.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, so Animal Services.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Gets all of the overflow, which is why why they
have so many dogs, which is why we focus our
our efforts there.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, no, it makes sense. And how long have you
been a part of Rescue Runners.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
We actually originally started Rescue Runners in twenty fourteen, but
we started with up Animal Services in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Oh so what were you doing before? Like before you were.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Smaller, smaller lokay, smaller shelter.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Oh okay, nice, That's why did you decide to like
be a part of doing this.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
I would say, just I've a runner in my past years.
I don't run a lot now, but I had a
little back injury, but I was previously an avid runner,
and so I think part of volunteering is you kind
of use those skills that come natural to you, and
it because it helps you to you know, you, if
you're enjoying doing it, obviously you're going to have fun volunteering.
So I started volunteering with and of course I love dogs,
(22:34):
I love all animals. But I was volunteering at the
animal shelter and I was helping with adoptions and things
like that. And I just one day I was walking
down the kennel aisle and you know, it's just like
forty dogs barking at you all at the same time.
They're just jumping up at their kennels, and I just
like look straight in their eyes and I just again,
I know that they're not talking English, speaking English, but
(22:56):
I just felt them, you know, they're just like, just
get me out of here, just getting me out of here,
Take me out of here. But of course there's forty
of them looking at you saying get me out here.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
You can't take.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
Them all, so you do what you can. And so
what I could do is I could take them for
a walk. So I just grab a leash, took one out,
come back, and it took you know, about a mile
is about fifteen minutes. Since you come back, you can
grab the next one. And so that means you can
do about four an hour. And so, being like I said,
having the running background, I was like, well, you know
that runner community is pretty big. Yeah, so I was like, well,
I can run four an hour. You know, if I
(23:26):
bring five friends with me, that's twenty an hour. If
I can convince you know, drag or convinting with.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
All the math things, yeah, yeah, what is it dog
dog rescue in her math rescue run around there you go.
If I can bring ten friends, that's forty dogs an hour.
So you know it's on. So that's why I that's
the how I started it is.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
I just put it out to rescue to runners and said,
if anybody wants to come run, help me run dogs.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
And so that's pretty much where it starts.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Oh that's cool.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
It kind of just grew organically. So again, if you're
just tuning in, we have Eileen Mendosa. She is the
president of Rescue Runners. They run and walk shelter dogs
so you don't have to run. So I want to
get into some of the benefits, even though they may
seem pretty obvious. First of all, for the dogs, what
is the benefit of taking a doggie on that even
(24:12):
if it's just once a week on that walk.
Speaker 6 (24:15):
Well, it is a court, it's enrichment for them. Again,
back to the shelter situation, they are pretty much in
their kennels twenty four seven. Unless a volunteer comes to
take them out or if they get out for an
enrichment activity that that team is able to pull them out,
they stay in their kennel twenty four seven. So obviously
getting out of the getting out of the kennel definitely helps,
(24:36):
just like we talk about mental health with us humans,
moving the body definitely helps.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It's the same thing for their dogs.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
And also not to get to graphic on you, but
of course walking also stimulates the digestive system. So a
lot of the dogs, unfortunately, they suffer from stomach issues, diarrhea,
that kind of stuff when they're in the shelter because
they're in there all the time.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
And most most dogs, as you.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Know, most dogs, as you know, they don't like to
go where they stay and eat and things like that,
so a lot of them will hold it and they
will as much as possible, and of course that causes
them that that disruption to their digestive system. So as
soon as they get out of the canel, of course,
the first thing they do is, you know, we have
to we have definitely have a big but supply of
poopy bags. There you go. Yeah, people come to their
check ins, to their checking station for the dogs. Eh yeah, yeah,
(25:26):
they signed the waiver and we're like, here's your puppy bags.
We automatically tell you, and we have a lot of
buckets along the route because we know that that's going
to happen. But again, even even though it's stinky, you
see how that it is helping them. You know, even
just that physical is helping them to get flowing and moving,
which is something that you know they're there. It's they're
an animal they need so again, like I said, not
to get to graphic, that makes a lot. So mentally
(25:49):
it helps them. Physically, it helps them. And then of
course anytime that they are out of the kennel and
not sitting in there, they're seeing members of the public.
Every chance opportunity they get to say a member of
the public is a chance for them to get adopted
and get out of that shelter. Yeah, so it doesn't
mean that of course, don't be scared just ad by
saying that you have to come and volunteer doesn't mean
that you have to bring every dog home. That's actually
(26:09):
why most of us do volunteer because we know we
can't take every dog home, but we do what we can.
You want, and so what we can is we can
help the ones that are there at the shelter and
we can help walk them, help get them seen, help,
And yeah, it does tug on your heartstrings, but again,
we just have to we're looking at the dog, putting
the dog first and seeing what we can do for them.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, and not only that, but I think when you
walk through the shelter and like you said, those dogs
are in their twenty four to seven and not completely
on the same bar. But like if you're a person,
say you're in your room twenty four to seven, you know,
and say you've been in there for a week and
someone comes to your door, they're not going to meet
the best representation of your RYE because you're like, you're upset,
(26:50):
you're frustrated, you're going you know. It's so it's like
I think it also helps them get adopted, not only
because more people are seeing them, but because if someone
comes in after they've been freshly walked or the day
after whatever they're seeing, maybe a more calm dog, a
dog that's not going stir crazy because they're in their kennel.
So you are really helping to get these dogs adopted.
(27:10):
And there's benefits to the human that's walking too, right,
especially the beginning of the year, people want to get healthier,
and I think walking is super underrated. People think that
they got to go sprint, they got to go right,
do cross it? No, Like, as a former fitness professional,
walking is just one of the best things you can do,
especially in the morning, especially outdoors, and especially when you're
(27:31):
helping someone. So I mean the obvious benefits, right, what
is it? They're tenfold? Yes, there it is. You know,
get out, get your ten thousand steps or whatever out
of the way. You're doing good. You can go have
breakfast afterward, drag your friend or your husband or whatever
with you, and so I think that's a really good date,
good thing to an added benefit for the human for
the doggies. Now let's talk about the schedule. So every
(27:51):
Sunday nine to eleven a year, winter hours, yes, because
of you know the temperature in summer eight to ten am.
And then of course you can always find them on
Instagram and Facebook at Rescue Runners nine one five, so
you can see where they're going to be what location.
But you also said that you have an event the
third Saturday of every month. Tell us about Doggy day Out.
Speaker 6 (28:12):
Doggy Day Out is another fun event that again grew
organically out of rescue Runners. It's just basic rescue runners.
You get to take the dug out for thirty to
forty five minutes and then people bring the doug back
and they always say, you know, oh I don't want
to say goodbye it I'm not you know, I'm not
done enjoying them. Okay, well here take them out for
the day.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Oh like you can take them home and and stuff
over there. Yes, so for all.
Speaker 6 (28:32):
So the way doggy yaut works is you sign up
to uh take a dog out for the day. Basically
make a dog's day, take them out, take them for
a pub cup, take them to to get a hat
for a.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
High pub boks right Starbucks.
Speaker 6 (28:43):
Starbucks does the pub ub and you again you could
we see a lot of people taking the pet smart.
They take them to the bath where you can wash
them yourself. Oh yeah, so they take them to the
little they take them a little places get them the bath,
taking the PetSmart, grab a toy. But even if you don't,
there's no requirement.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
That you have to go out.
Speaker 6 (29:00):
You know, if say you're not more, you're not a
person that likes to do extra extrovert activities, you can
just take them home. A lot of times when I
pick up the dogs for doggie d out, we just
go to the house and I'm you know, it's my
yard day, and so I'm like, okay, come out, and
so I put my my babies stay in the house
and they're you know, I put them in the bedroom
and then this dog pretty much gets run of the house,
and so I let them out in the yard and
I'm like, okay, so I'm working on the.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yard and they're just sniffing around doing their thing and
join just.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
Being a dog.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
They get to just breathe and let loose and like, okay,
you know, I don't have to be with all the
other dogs, all that noise, barking. We do get a
lot of them too that they as soon as they
get out of the shelter, once they get into the yard,
and they then they kind of just take a nap
because it's they're just it's a decompression.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
They're decompressive body from all.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Of that stuff. And then so they run around the
yard and stuff. And then before we leave, we do
some couch time. You can just say you want to
just do Netflix and Binge, bring them in the house
and then you can even just watch movies cut al
on the couch and again they're probably gonna sleep some more.
But that all that just let's their bodies reset, reset,
decompress before they have to go back to the shelter.
(30:04):
And again, I know that sometimes it is a sad situation.
I don't want to take them back, but the benefits
of them being out with you far away, they would
have just been sitting in the kennel the whole time
that day anyways, So doggy do is again, so you
have to focus on the positive things. Think of all
the good things that you're doing for their dog. They're
getting out of their kennel, they're getting time to decompress,
and again they're getting seen by the public. It's not
(30:26):
just the volunteer that's getting to see them, like while
they're out on a walk, they're actually going out into
the community. Your people are going to see them at
pet smart.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
If you take them.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
They can pretty much go to any restaurant where there's
a patio, so anybody there that that that restaurant is
going to see the dog as soon as they make
I kind oh a dog. And you can say they're
for adoption.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
You know, callars or something that they were that say
up for adoption. They do.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
They wear the bandanas that say adopt me on them,
and then we have sometimes their harnesses, we have velcro
straps on them that say adopt me.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Also on their LEAs strap that says the dog. Oh
my god.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
So it's like a little walking little billboard, you know,
I'm up for adoption.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
So yeah, so that's a lot of fun. That's the
third Saturday of every month. So as of the airing
of this interview, the next one is going to be
February twenty first, and they can take them all night
or you have the option.
Speaker 6 (31:13):
The daytime option is eight am and then you return
between two to three pm, okay, and then if you
choose to do an overnight, you again still pick them
up at eight am on Saturday and then you would
return them at twelve noon on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
There you go, and is that at all three locations We.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
Rotate every month, so every month it's at a different location.
Oh okay, okay, So the one on the twenty first,
what location will that twenty first will be at the
Mission Valley location in Socorro.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Okay. Oh that's awesome. And again, if you want more,
if you want to stay up to date and current
with everything that they're doing at Rescue Runners nine to
one to five on Instagram and Facebook, you can also
go to Rescue Runners dot org. This has been really cool.
I think I'm going to try to do the February
twenty because my little one, she's been well, she wants
a snake, right, but I mean that's fine with me.
(31:59):
But she likes dogs, she likes cats, So maybe doing
that and not only that, but stress relief. There's studies
that have been proven. I'm not talking about the dog,
I'm talking about the human. If you pet an animal
and you can take care of an animal, that's a
big stress relief for you too. And there's a lot
of kids that have come out of their shell that
maybe have autism or ADHD or anxiety, and you may
(32:20):
find that if you try this walking them or doing
the doggy day out, maybe a furry companion is what
one of your family members need. So, Eileen, is there
anything else that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 6 (32:32):
Well, just what you were just mentioning regarding like being
being good with children. So as the dogs are out
on their doggy day out, basically, all we know about
the dog.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Is what we know in their kennel.
Speaker 6 (32:42):
Okay, they you know, they are excited, they like to jump,
you know, that's pretty much it. Once we get them
out of their cannel and they get to go to
a home and they can interact with people's children then
and you know.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
We get stories. They feel that little doggie out report
cards and we find out you know, the people will
come back. But they were so good with my kids.
Speaker 6 (32:58):
She was so gentle with my daughter, or my son
likes my son likes. My son likes to play baseball.
And so they played fetch out in the backyard and
he was like he got he got to fetch right away.
I mean there's it's even some dogs that come in
they don't even know what a toy is. So it's
it's but yet this dog, oh he knows how to
play fetch, you know. So it just you never know
what the dog knows until you get them out of
(33:19):
out of the shelter, and so you get to see
those things about them. Some of them come back and
they say they know how to sit down, roll over, stay,
they knew all of the commands, and we're like, what,
we didn't even know that. They show a completely different
personality outside than they do inside the shelter. For some
of them have been you know, really really shy and
the things that we've never known about them. And then
the people come back and they they're like, oh, yeah,
(33:39):
look at him, look at and they take a bunch
of pictures with a dog, you know, all happy and
relax and everything, and so we know we know that
that dog is not showing their true self inside the shelter,
and those pictures and those experiences that we can share
with the public help us to get them at a
home because we know.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
They're not they're not really like this. You just need
to get them out and they completely you know it
real quick. I know, like for when you're going to
walk them on Sundays, it's just you show up. But
if they're going to do a doggy day out, is
there any kind of registration or anything someone else to
do the registration question.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
We ask you other questions during the registration portion, so
we asked do you know this is when when they're
signing up, So when they're sign up, we already asked them,
you know, do you have children? Are you planning to
do a relaxed day or do you want to do
a doggie or an adventurous day, So we also know
which kind of dog to assign them, okay, and then
when they get to the shelter, we also have a
Doggedy outfield trip guide that we go over and kind
(34:29):
of give them, like the again back to the dos
and dones of where they can take them. And also
just to be aware of the comfortability of your dog
when they're out, you know, make sure that they're staying hydrated,
make sure you're giving them water, watching them also to
how they sometimes they aren't comfortable in public. So if
you take them to a restaurant, a busy restaurant patio
and they're you know kind of like, Okay, I'm not
ready for this yet, maybe you want to take them
(34:50):
out of that situation and maybe just go to the
park and walk around because they don't have to be
it's not so hustle and bustle there as like a
restaurant would be. So it's really about watching the comfortability
of your dog and just making sure that they're enjoying there.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
To fit your lifestyle. And where do people sign up
for that? Also at Rescue runners dot org. Rescue our
homepage has our.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Regular Sunday schedule events and then there's a tab that
says Doggy Day Out and then that would be where
the information for Doggy Y out and then where we
have the sign up link for every month.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
Oh okay, this is perfect, So you can sign up
at Rescue runners dot org. That is amazing. And again
that information will also be available on Poto two point
one sending that at nine point nine and ninety six
point three k Hey Country on our Instagram and Facebook. Eileen,
thank you so much for talking with us today.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Thank you you've been listening to El Paso Public Forum,
a weekly public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Paso. If you,
your organization or event would like to be featured on
an upcoming program, please email to ep Forum at iHeartMedia
dot com or call us at nine one five three
five one five four zero zero. Tune in again next
(35:50):
week for another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The
preceding program was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio L Paso.
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