Most humans could benefit from a little exercise.
So could pets. But for those without a human, it's often harder to get proper exercise.
Fortunately, the canine tenants of Rock Island Animal Care & Control Shelter (QC Paws) get to join Rock Island High School's cross country teams in a 2-plus-mile recovery jaunt at least once a month.
“It's a great opportunity,” sophomore Elliot Batz said after Thursday's run. “We get NHS (National Honor Society) service hours, and I think it's a good workout for the dogs. Especially since they don't have a home. So we get to give them some (affection), and we also get a workout.”
Boys cross country coach Jarrin Williams said the partnership began in the fall of 2019.
“I just love that the kids want to do this; I don't think there's any feeling of being ‘forced,' ” he said. “They just really enjoy doing it; the community service is just a side benefit.”
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The idea sprung from Sam Wily, QC Paws Operations Coordinator and a friend of Williams from junior high. She shared a Facebook post of another cross country team running with shelter dogs and encouraged Williams to bring his team.
“We're going to be running anyways,” he said of the opportunity. “I know the shelter staff really appreciate it, too.”
Batz said the dogs usually could keep pace “pretty well.”
“My dog had a few miles on him, so he was pretty tired,” he said of his mutt-looking companion Thursday.
Wily said the partnership with Rocky's cross country program was “huge” for her staff at the shelter.
“Our animals are getting out, they're exercising — it just makes them better dogs,” she said. “It gives them an (outlet) for all that energy, and the kids have way more energy than I have.”
Staffing is a challenge at the moment, Wily said, and the shelter relies heavily on volunteers.
“We're busy taking care of (animals') food needs, their cleaning needs and their medicine … things of that nature,” she said, so it helps having the Rocky kids lend a hand when it comes to keeping the dogs active and engaged in play.
It also helps with operations. Since the partnership began in 2019, Williams estimates five or more of his runners have adopted an animal from the shelter — including senior Kylie Melchi.
Her family adopted Athena, a black Labrador retriever, last December.
“I love coming out here. It's so much fun,” Melchi said. “We only get to (run) with a couple of dogs … but I think it's real nice for the both of us, because we get a little bit of a workout and they do, too. I'm sure they don't get taken out like that as much, just because there are so many and they're at a shelter.”
Her coach, Susie Williams, similarly calls it a “win-win.”
“The girls always get psyched; a lot of them are dog lovers,” she said. “It's nice to see them get excited about it because I think it helps keep the sport fun. This is high school running, it's supposed to be fun, and this is an opportunity for them to give back but also enjoy the time they get to spend (together) and with the boys.”
The 2024 season marks the highest girls cross country participation in Rocky's history, at 28 runners. Susie Williams said her top seven runners — along with some fresher faces — were seeing their times drop from earlier races this fall.
“I think right now, the momentum is very positive … they're all really starting to (feel) that endurance and control build up,” she said, adding that her team hopes to land a good spot in the Western Big 6 Conference. “They're getting excited about every race, every weekend and how they can improve.”
Jarrin Williams had similar thoughts on the boys' season.
“We're starting to make progress in what I feel is the right direction,” he said. “We have two strong front runners and several returners who, for one reason or another — injury, lack of preparation for the season — aren't where they're supposed to be yet, but we are trending in the right direction.”
Some of the team's impact runners are young, such as Batz and freshmen Cylar Smith, Nolan Jared and Steven Hernandez.
“Hopefully, that encourages and inspires our upperclassmen,” Williams said. “I've got three of four who are currently (competing) for a varsity spot.”
In the meantime, Rocky's cross country teams plan to keep working hard. Somedays, alongside their furry friends — they might just need to prepare for a “potty break” or two.
