Volunteers walking dogs, playing Pokemon Go at Muncie Animal Shelter

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Dozens of volunteers are flocking to the Muncie Animal Shelter all thanks to Pokemon Go. Shelter workers found a way to use the game to their advantage.

They made a Facebook post Tuesday asking people to walk the shelter’s adoptable dogs around town while playing the game. More than 14,000 people shared the post within 24 hours.

Shelter workers said 20-30 new volunteers showed up by 1 p.m Wednesday.

Adrienne West drove 45 minutes from Upland to walk a three-year-old pitbull named Maya.

And to catch a Weedle.

“There’s not a lot of places to play around where I live and I like animals so I thought it was really cool how they’re combining the two,” West said.

Shelter Director Phil Peckenpaugh said he bought 20 new leashes to keep up with increased demand. He said walking the dogs makes them more sociable, healthier and more likely to be adopted.