Grand Junction’s Roice-Hurst Humane Society just made lunch breaks a lot more fun. Starting this month, anyone can grab a shelter dog and join a free group walk every Monday at noon. The new Pop-Up Pack Walk program is already turning heads across the Grand Valley.
The simple idea is proving powerful: get shelter dogs out of kennels, get people moving, and let both sides heal together.
Why This Program Hits Different
“People kept telling us they wanted to help but couldn’t commit to long-term volunteering,” says Jenna Kretschman, Communications Coordinator at Roice-Hurst. “This gives them a 30-45 minute window on their lunch break to make a real difference.”
The walks are deliberately short and scheduled at noon so office workers, remote employees, and anyone with a flexible lunch hour can join without rearranging their day.
Primary Care Partners, the program’s health partner, loves the dual benefit.
“We’re seeing more and more research that interaction with dogs lowers stress, reduces blood pressure, and fights loneliness,” says Dr. Emily Thompson from Primary Care Partners Family Medicine. “This isn’t just exercise. It’s medicine.”
Where the Walks Happen Each Week
Locations rotate to keep things fresh and reach different parts of the valley:
- Week 1: Canyon View Park (Grand Junction)
- Week 2: Riverbend Park (Palisade)
- Week 3: Little Salt Wash Park (Fruita)
- Week 4: Las Colonias Park Amphitheater lot (Grand Junction)
- Week 5: Surprise location announced the Friday before
The schedule and exact meeting spots are posted every Friday afternoon on the Roice-Hurst website and their Instagram (@roicehurst).
Real Impact After Just Three Weeks
In the first three weeks, more than 60 different people showed up. That’s 60+ instances of shelter dogs getting out of their runs for fresh air, new smells, and human touch.
Three dogs have already been adopted by people who met them first on a pack walk.
“Winnie was so shut down in her kennel,” says volunteer Sarah Martinez, who now walks every Monday. “On our second walk together, she started wagging her tail when she saw me coming. Two weeks later, she’s sleeping on my couch every night.”
The change in the dogs is visible within minutes. Dogs who bark nonstop in their kennels often walk calmly in the pack, learning manners from the group and burning energy in the best way possible.
How to Join (It’s Easier Than You Think)
You don’t need to RSVP, though it helps them plan how many dogs to bring. Just show up at the location posted for that week. The team brings leashes, waste bags, water, and plenty of treats.
First-time walkers get a quick 2-minute briefing on how to handle shelter dogs (most of whom have had zero leash training when they arrive).
Anyone 14 and up can walk a dog. Kids younger than that are welcome with an adult but can’t handle dogs themselves.
Bigger Than Just a Walk
Grand County animal shelters took in 2,847 dogs last year. Only about 65% left alive. The rest were euthanized for space or long stays.
Programs like Pop-Up Pack Walk directly fight that reality. Every dog that gets out for socialization is more adoptable. Every person who falls in love on a walk becomes a potential adopter or donor.
It’s the kind of grassroots idea that could spread to other communities struggling with shelter overcrowding.
One walker put it best after last Monday’s walk in Palisade: “I came for a quick walk on my lunch break. I left with a new routine and honestly, a better mood for the rest of my week.”
If you’ve been looking for a way to help shelter dogs that fits your busy life, this is it. Thirty minutes on a Monday could change a dog’s entire future. And maybe yours too.
What do you think? Will you join a Pop-Up Pack Walk this month? Drop your thoughts below, and tag a friend who needs more dog time in their life.
