Why Dogs Are Loving Pokémon GO

Not only has Pokémon GO been a huge success for shareholders of Nintendo Co., Ltd (ADR) NTDOY, it has has gotten players up off their couches and enjoying the health benefits of long walks outdoors.

While it’s likely a number of pet dogs are enjoying the benefit of extended Pokemon GO walks, the Muncie Indiana Shelter saw an opportunity for its sheltered dogs to benefit from the Pokémon GO craze as well.

The shelter started a “Pokémon Dogs” volunteer program for GO players to drop by the shelter and pick up a dog to walk while they are playing the game.

Once shelter director Phil Peckenpaugh posted a flier for the program on the shelter’s Facebook page, the add received more than 15,000 shares and 5,000 reactions in a matter of days.

“There’s been an incredible response, and it’s just kind of taken off,” Peckenpaugh said.

“We even had to go and buy more leashes this morning.”

Related Link: The Potential Health Benefits Of Augmented Reality

This is exactly the type of positive Pokémon GO publicity that Nintendo needs after reports have surfaced of criminals luring Pokémon GO players to secluded locations to rob them.

Nintendo reportedly gets about 20 percent of the proceeds from the game, while Apple Inc. AAPL receives an estimated 30 percent. Since the beginning of June, the two stocks are up 69.1 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively.

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.