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Indiana animal shelter urging 'Pokemon Go' players to walk dogs

MUNCIE, Ind. — An animal shelter in Muncie, Indiana, is asking "Pokemon Go" users to walk shelter dogs while they play the game.

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The augmented reality game encourages players to get up and out while they hunt for Pokemon characters.

"Pokemon Go" collects GPS information from players' smartphones to place Pokemon in locations that are within walkable distances. Many characters are placed in public places.

The Muncie Animal Shelter started the volunteer program Tuesday after the shelter director, Phil Peckinpaugh, was inspired by his 6-year-old daughter, Ruthie, and his 7-year-old nephew, who both play the game, ABC News reported.

"I started playing with Ruthie, and it was actually pretty fun," he told ABC. "Then the other day, while on my way to work, I noticed droves of young people walking around playing this game. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if all those people were walking with our dogs?'"

Peckinpaugh created the program Pokemon Dogs to push his idea.

He created a flier and posted about the program on the shelter's Facebook page.  The Facebook post has been shared more than 25,000 times.

Come out to the Muncie Animal Shelter between 10am-5:30pm any day and walk an adoptable dog as you hunt for Pokemon and hatch eggs!

Posted by Muncie Animal Shelter on Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Peckinpaugh said lots of people have already begun participating in the Pokemon Dogs program.

"There's been an incredible response, and it's just kind of taken off," he said. "We even had to go and buy more leashes this morning."

Peckinpaugh said about 75 adoptable dogs can be taken out for walks.

"Just swing by and come to our front desk and ask for the Pokemon Dogs," he said. "And then, you know, maybe you even fall in love and come back and adopt that dog one day."