Wesley Swainston is an active-duty Marine whose life took an unexpected turn when he decided to volunteer at a local dog shelter. He started going on daily runs with rescue dogs, and his videos blew up online once he started sharing them on social media in an attempt to help these pups find a loving home.
Swainston is a huge dog lover, who has two pets of his own, and he decided to contribute to his local community by volunteering at the local animal shelter Adoption First near Jacksonville, Florida, He started training dogs and showcasing their personalities online in the hope this would help them get adopted – and he definitely succeeded.
Swainston’s videos blew up when he started talking the dogs along on his daily runs, especially the one where trains for a marathon by running 26 miles, each with a different rescue dog.
“This approach not only provided them with physical exercise but also helped more fearful dogs open up. I would often bring fellow Marines to volunteer with me, allowing them to play and run with the dogs, which was a rewarding experience for everyone involved,” he told People.
Swainston hopes his videos will inspire others to adopt rescue dogs and volunteer at their local animal shelters because they need all the help they can get.
