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Pokemon Go and pets: the perfect pair

Pokémon Go is hitting the Okanagan in a major way and users can now give back while participating in all the fun.

All you have to download the free ResQwalk app and choose your pet-friendly charity of choice, whether it be Paws it Forward, the Okanagan Humane Society or others, and walk. Anonymous corporate sponsors worldwide then donate based on your kilometres.

<who> Photo Credit: ResQwalk.

Kelowna resident Michelle Greenwood heard about the app when her friend made a post about it on Facebook.

“When the new Pokémon Go app came out she was just saying if anybody’s out walking around to download and use the (ResQwalk) app at the same time,” she said. “I was just really surprised that I hadn’t heard about it through social media or advertising and I kind of wish I knew about it a lot sooner because I go for a walk several times a day.”

<who> Photo Credit: Submitted. </who> Michelle Greedwood and her dog Maxwell.

As an animal lover and owner of a small dog named Maxwell, she wanted to get involved right away. After a little online research, Greenwood said she found out corporate sponsors donate a cash pool towards the app and any animal-welfare charity can then benefit when users get active. The money is dispersed to organizations on the app.

So far, Greenwood said she’s been walking for the Okanagan Human Society.

“It feels pretty awesome just to be able to do daily activities and know that it’s helping out an organization that’s helping animals,” she said.

Not only can Pokémon Go users take part, but if you’re going for a run, hike or just running errands, Greenwood encourages you to do the same.

“As long as you’re walking you can be raising money towards your organization,” Greenwood said. “You could go to the mall and go shopping and be raising money for the app or go shopping for groceries and be raising money too.

“I know a lot of people in the Okanagan are out and about all the time so it would be an easy way.”

<who> Photo Credit: Submitted by Paws it Forward. </who> Riley, who is already well-versed in Pokemon Go, <br> is looking for his forever home.

Charlotte Middleton, one of the founders of Paws it Forward, said once they got their charitable status they were nominated to be added to the app by multiple people.

Out of thousands of organizations in the world signed up, Paws it Forward has landed in the top 25 since they started. Sometimes, Middleton said she logs kilometres for other rescue organizations to help them out.

"Considering we're from Canada, especially small-town Kelowna, being in the top 20s is pretty amazing,” said Middleton. "Our followers are pretty awesome and always trying to get some miles in there.”

<who> Photo Credit: Submitted by Paws it Forward. </who> One Okanagan pet owner snapped this photo while <br> raising money for Paws it Forward with the app ResQwalk.

In just a couple of months, they've earned about $70 and hope to see even more people logging miles to the app.

"Every donation is awesome and appreciated but definitely we would need more people walking to be able to get higher up and get those larger donations,” she continued.

ResQwalk doesn’t use any cellular data, you just have to turn on your location on your phone and it tracks you distance by GPS.

Middleton suggests that people turn on the app while taking their dog for a walk. You can even bike with it, as long as you aren't going more than 10 kilometres per hour.

When it comes to pairing ResQwalk with Pokémon Go, well why wouldn’t you?

"Because people are out walking and looking for Pokémon, you can put your tracker on for ResQwalk at the same time, therefore helping out dogs and rescues in need,” Middleton said. “We all need to get out and enjoy the fresh air, so why not enjoy it and support those in need.”



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