The Ponoka Lions Club is inviting the community to lace up their walking shoes for a cause that changes lives. The annual Walk for Dog Guides is set for Saturday, May 25, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Lions Clubhouse, located beside the off-leash dog park.
The fundraiser supports the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, a national organization that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with Canadians living with disabilities. These dogs are provided at no cost to recipients, thanks to events like the annual walk.
Participants are asked to collect pledges in advance and bring their completed forms to the event. Donations can also be made online, making it easy for friends and family from outside the community to support the cause. Paper pledge forms are available at both veterinary clinics in Ponoka or through any Lions Club member.
Dogs are welcome to join the walk, but owning a pet is not a requirement. The route is intentionally short and accessible, encouraging participation from people of all ages and mobility levels. After the walk, participants will be treated to a barbecue hosted by the Lions Club, along with door prizes and the announcement of the total funds raised.
Funds raised go directly to the Dog Guides program, which provides seven types of specially trained dogs to individuals across Canada: Canine Vision, Hearing, Seizure Response, Service, Autism Assistance, Diabetic Alert, and Facility Support dogs. Each dog is trained for a specific role and is carefully matched to a person in need through a rigorous screening and training process.
According to organizers, the average cost to breed, train, and place one dog is approximately $35,000, but recipients are never charged. Demand for these dogs has grown steadily, prompting the Lions Foundation to begin construction of a new, larger facility in Ontario to keep up with need.
“We’ve outgrown the old one,” said Dixie Tindall, chair of the walk committee and a 13-year member of the Ponoka Lions Club. “There’s such a demand for the dogs that you can’t keep up with it.”
The Ponoka Lions Club is proud of its consistent success with the event, typically raising between $4,000 and $5,000 annually—one of the highest totals in the region.
The club, which has about 16 active members, also organizes a slow-pitch tournament in July, another major fundraising effort. Funds from that event are directed toward various community projects. This year, proceeds are expected to support improvements to the hospital helipad, an ongoing initiative the club is backing in partnership with local stakeholders.
To learn more about the walk, donate online, or download a pledge form, visit the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides website or contact a Ponoka Lions Club member.
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