🐾 The dog days of summer

Eight years ago, high school cross-country coach Luis Escobar was trying to think of ways to motivate his athletes to keep running over their summer vacation. 

He was brainstorming with his wife when she got an idea: why don't the kids run with local shelter dogs? 

Jarrin...ran with her idea: After she got in touch with a local animal shelter, the kids were taught the basics of running safely with canines – then they hit the road. The program was a roaring success, and, nearly a decade later, it's become the blueprint for other high schools nationwide. 

💬 Time capsule: “It was super fun. The kids were having a great time, the dogs were having a great time,” Luis said of that very first day. “Tails were wagging, and kids were smiling."