Imagine being cooped up in a small space, unable to leave or do much other than walk in circles, waiting and hoping for a little reprieve. That’s how most of us probably felt this winter, but that’s how shelter dogs feel every day.

Realizing how important daily exercise is for both humans and animals, Marie Gryszowka and Bonnie Lattimore are helping shelter dogs at the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL) get out and get moving with their new volunteer program ~ a doggie run club they’ve dubbed Tailblazers.

“When Bonnie told me she was interested in running dogs, being a runner myself, I couldn’t have been happier,” said Gryszowka, 30, WARL’s volunteer coordinator. “I never would have thought of this myself.”

When Lattimore, 32, moved to Worcester last summer, one of the first things she did was look for the nearest animal shelter. “We move around a lot because my husband is a lacrosse coach, but everywhere I go, I always try to volunteer.”

Lattimore, whose husband works at College of the Holy Cross, first ran shelter dogs when she lived in Michigan and brought the idea with her when the family moved to Philadelphia. Now an official WARL volunteer, Lattimore has helped Gryszowka create a program that matches a volunteer runner with a shelter dog; the ultimate goal is to get every dog out for a daily 3- to 3½-mile run. Although the program is strictly for runners (there is a walk-and-scoop program for walkers), you don’t need to be fast.

“You don’t have to have run a marathon or have elite pacing,” Gryszowka said. “You can run a 16-minute mile, and you’re still giving the dogs the same exercise as someone running a 7:20 pace.”

Tailblazers is one of WARL’s many volunteer programs, and just like the others, everyone gets trained during an orientation, as well as one-on-one, and all volunteers must give a six-month commitment to come at least twice a month. All runners 18 and older are welcome. Lattimore said volunteers range from undergraduate students to lawyers.

“Being able to take the higher energy dogs and get them some exercise is great,” Gryszowka said. “They’re able to burn off the extra energy they have when out for a run. When they get back, they’re quieter and rested for the doctors when they come in. They’re also burning off their food faster, which helps them gain weight.”

For example, Parker, who Gryszowka calls a “phenomenal dog,” gets extremely stressed out when cooped up in his kennel. “After a good run, he can nap and play with his toys,” she said. “It’s great to see what a run can do for these dogs.”

Gryszowka said there has been a “fantastic response from the community,” and the two orientations WARL held this winter were well-attended. “We set it up to start it slow this winter,” she said. “Our population of dogs grows with the warmer weather.”

This spring, the WARL will expand the running routes to around Indian Lake and Nick’s Woods, as well as host more orientation sessions for those interested in joining Tailblazers.

For more details, visit facebook.com/WorcesterAnimalRescueLeague.

By Kimberly Dunbar