none 10.18502/jsbch.v9i2.20256 Knowledge E DMCC Knowledge E DMCC 7770 186092079 457596 1772017162 10.18502 2026-02-25T10:59:23Z 2025-11-26T12:55:41Z 0 Journal of Social Behavior and Community Health JSBCH 2783-2104 11 26 2025 Melanie Sartore-Baldwin Bhibha Das Background: The purpose of this work is to examine physical activity levels of volunteers who walk shelter dogs at an open-admission animal shelter in the southern United States.  In doing so, shelter dog walking is presented as an activity of relational community engagement that can enhance well-being at all levels.   Methods: For this quasi-experimental study, a purposive sample of volunteer dog walkers in rural North Carolina was asked to record daily activity for a twelve-week period, with a total of 336 days submitted. Descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test were analyze the data. Results:  Data from a total of 336 days was collected.  Paired-samples t-test was performed to compare outcomes assessed on days shelter dogs were not walked and days they were walked by volunteers.  Significant differences were demonstrated for the steps taken (t(154) = 9.5, p < .001), the distance walked (t(154) = 9.0, p < .001), and the calories expended (t(154) = 5.2, p < .001).  Conclusion:  The implications of these findings are multi-level and suggest walking shelter dogs can be a beneficial activity for all parties involved.  At the micro-level, volunteers walked further, burned more calories, and accumulated more steps on days they walked shelter dogs.  In turn, shelter staff and the local community benefited at the meso- and macro-levels, respectively. 11 26 2025 10.18502/jsbch.v9i2.20256 https://publish.kne-publishing.com/index.php/SBRH/article/view/20256 https://publish.kne-publishing.com/index.php/SBRH/article/download/20256/18854 https://publish.kne-publishing.com/index.php/SBRH/article/download/20256/18854 http://sbrh.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-291-en.html