Bugsy, a shelter dog from Anchorage Animal Care and Control, out on a walk at Campbell Airstrip Trail with volunteer Meghan Barker on May 5, 2025. Photo by Andrea Brutzel.
Tails on Trails is a program at Anchorage Animal Care and Control that lets volunteers take shelter dogs on adventures. While not a new concept for animal shelters, it’s the first program of its kind in Anchorage.
The outings give dogs both physical exercise and mental stimulation as volunteers pick them up from the shelter and head out for a hike, walk or camping trip.
Joel Jorgenson, community outreach manager for Anchorage Animal Care and Control, or AACC, said the program especially helps dogs that stay at the shelter for longer periods of time.
“The benefits far outweigh the miles for us,” he said.
He spoke about one dog who stayed at the shelter for roughly four months.
“Normally, our average length of stay is maybe two weeks to a month,” he said. “While he was here, he was probably getting more exercise than your average dog at home. It seemed like every day he was going out on hikes, staying at someone’s house or going camping.”
Jorgenson said those experiences make a big difference.
“I imagine he was having a good time,” said Jorgenson. “It pretty much made his four months with us seem like nothing to him.”
He said the change in scenery also helps the dogs mentally by breaking the monotony of kennel life.
“We want to avoid the whole ‘doggy prison’ mindset,” said Jorgenson.
When dogs return from outings, staff members notice a change.
“Even if it’s just for a couple of hours, they come back calmer and more relaxed,” he said. “They’re in a more natural state, more like how they’d be in a home.”
Before dogs can participate in the program, they’re evaluated to determine whether they’re a good fit, as well as their energy level and personality.
“We can help guide people to pick the right dog,” said Jorgenson. “The last thing we want is someone planning to hike Flattop who ends up with a lazy dog that just wants to hang out on the couch.”
During the evaluation process, shelter dogs often meet AACC’s ambassador dogs: Staff-owned pets that help test how new dogs interact with others.
Volunteers can take dogs for up to 48 hours, whether that means going home to watch a movie, heading out for a run or driving to Seward for a weekend camping trip.
Among those who have participated is Meghan Barker. She took Bugsy, a 5-year-old dog, for a three-mile walk and run along the Campbell Airstrip Trail.
“Being able to participate in this program allowed me to support the shelter and its animals in a smaller way that easily fit my busy schedule,” said Barker.
For those interested in volunteering, the process is simple. AACC is located just over a mile from the University of Alaska Anchorage, off Elmore Road.
The program encourages people to stop by the shelter, fill out an application and complete a brief training session.
The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and volunteers can also contact the shelter at accs@anchorageak.gov for more information.
People who already have dogs are also welcome to volunteer.
“We do dog-to-dog introductions to make sure they get along, then send you off on the trails,” said Jorgenson.
Since launching in the spring, the program has sent more than 400 dogs out on adventures. The shelter has seen adoptions increase as a result of improved behavior and temperament.
“I think animals would be staying a lot longer in the shelter without this program,” said Jorgenson. “The more people we can get involved, whether it’s UAA students, families with kids or visitors who miss their dogs back home, the better. It really does change lives.”
.png)
.jpg)
