The Saskatchewan Search Dog Association (SSDA) is raising funds while promoting canine health. Hosted by Flying C Veterinary Services, they’re offering a one-day canine first aid course aimed at equipping dog owners to care for their canine friends in an emergency.
President of the SSDA Cliff Erhardt says the course teaches handlers to recognize when there is a problem, stabilize their dog while seeking veterinary attention and provide strategies to prevent injury and illness from worsening. He recommends all dog owners participate.
“This covers all kinds of potential situations from, let's say, a dog getting into a pack of gum out of a lady's purse. How to recognize the symptoms, how to recognize when you've got a problem and what to do for your dog to make sure that they're not going to get seriously injured or ill.”
Erhardt stresses the benefits of this training for rural dog owners, as emergency vet care can be more difficul to access.
“You could be an hour's drive away from your local veterinarian, which would make this kind of training a lot more critical because we go over how to stabilize your dog and how to keep them safe while you're getting that urgent vet care taken care of.”
The training not only provides knowledge but also certifies participants in canine first aid. Each attendee will receive a first aid manual for reference and future use.
"This isn't all just theory. We're going to work with it, do a little bit of hands-on, not with real dogs though, mind you. I've got training aids for that so, if everyone can leave their dogs at home, that would be very appreciated."
All funds raised from the event will go toward training and equipment expenses for the SSDA. Which is why, according to Erhardt, they decided to host this course.
“We were talking as a group about what we can do that really aligns with our core values that could be of benefit to the community, and also help us raise money for necessary equipment for us to do our job. And canine first aid training was at the top of the list.”
“It's also something that I'm also very passionate about because I've been teaching this for a few years now and I've also had myself in situations where my dog became injured or ill, and I really had to act fast to get my dog to a vet to prevent that situation from becoming a serious risk to my dog's health.”
Erhardt notes some of what will be covered in the course including common risks in dog ownership, physical injuries, hypothermia and hyperthermia, and household hazards.
The event will be held on Saturday June 28th at Flying C Veterinary Services from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with lunch provided. The cost is $165, attendees must reserve their spots by contacting the SSDA at clifford.erhardt@gmail.com or 306-242-0081.
“I'm just really looking forward to doing this event. I think it's going to be a blast.”