Okay, people, start your canines in preparation for the annual walk for dog guides in Lions Park in Oliver on May 25.
That’s what Joanne Bray was promoting during her recent presentation to Town council.
She began by talking about the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, noting this is the sixth year they have been hosting the walk in Oliver. This year, registration is at 11:45 am, with the walk starting at 12:15 pm.
The purpose of the walk is to raise money so that the foundation can breed, raise and train six types of dog guides.
Canine vision dogs are trained to assist their handlers in navigating obstacles found on most daily routes, including curbs, steps and crowds.
Hearing ear dogs assist individuals who are 10 years of age or older and who are deaf or hard of hearing.
These dogs have been taught to distinguish sounds, make physical contact with their handlers and lead them to whatever is making the noise; be it someone at the door, an alarm clock, or a ringing telephone.
Autism assistance dogs help children aged three to 18 years. They provide safety, companionship and unconditional love. The dogs are trained to provide a calming relief for children in high anxiety situations.
Special skills dogs help their handlers retrieve objects, open and close appliances, and open and close doors. These dog guides are also trained to bark or activate an alert system when help is needed.
Seizure response
dogs are specially trained for people with epilepsy.
Diabetic alert dogs assist people aged 10 or older who have type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness. They are trained to detect sudden drops in their handler’s blood sugar scent and alert them so that they can ingest something sweet. They can go get help within the home or activate an alert system if needed. Their ability to detect and react to hypoglycemic episodes helps their handlers avoid loss of consciousness and subsequent life-threatening effects.
Bray cited an incident involving a diabetic alert dog with its child and his mother at an outdoor function. All of a sudden the dog went running out on the field and started to alert another child on the field.
The mother told the other child’s mother she should get her child checked, and was told the other child didn’t have diabetes.
“They did take that child to the doctor and found out the child did have diabetes,” Bray said, noting the dog saved another child’s life.
After the Lions Foundation spends nearly two years and $20,000, the dog is ready to meet its new owner, at no charge.
Bray said all the money raised from these walks goes to looking after these dogs.
The most important part of the event is the pledge sheets, which people use to raise money.
“You can have a dog to walk or not, you can be at the walk or not, but please, get the pledge sheets filled out and handed in at the walk or to any Lion or Lioness that you know.”
You can also register your pledge online at www.purinawalkfordogguides.com
