The Innisfail Lions Club is hosting a dog walk this Saturday in support of guide dogs in Canada.
The Walk for Dog Guides of Canada will take place at the Anthony Henday Campground with registration starting at 10 a.m. and the walk beginning at 11 a.m. Spectators are welcome, and a BBQ lunch is included with registration.
Lunch will also be available to spectators by donation, and there will be free treats for dogs along with other gifts.
The local event ties in with the nationwide Walk for Dog Guides of Canada, which takes place each May to support the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. The foundation empowers Canadians living with disabilities to navigate their world with confidence by providing guide dogs at no cost — a service valued at about $35,000 per dog.
Gary Hiney, an advocate for the foundation, has seen first-hand the impact the program has had.
“I’ve seen what this has done in the 10 years that I’ve had Irv, and it’s knowing you can make a difference, and the bottom line is it’s changing people’s lives,” said Hiney.
Hiney received Irv, his guide dog, from the foundation’s Oakville, Ont., facility, where the dogs are raised and trained in distinct programs ranging from seizure support to diabetes alert. He flew out for three weeks of training and is grateful for the support.
“I’m not sure what I’d do without him. He’s been my lifeline, umbilical cord since I’ve received him.”
To learn more about the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, visit their website.
** With information from Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.
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