Canine Courier – Spring 2016
Graduate Update
“There are no words to explain how it feels going for that first walk independently, with your dog,” says Jennifer of her early experiences with a Canine Vision Dog Guide. “It’s the feeling of freedom.”
Jennifer is from Stratford, P.E.I., a community just outside of Charlottetown. But don’t assume it’s a sleepy suburb: “To walk to our local grocery store, you have to cross the Trans-Canada Highway,” she says. This is no easy feat when retinitis pigmentosa affects your peripheral vision, making it impossible to see everything other than what’s directly in front of you. “I never knew where cars were coming from, which made crossing the street or walking through a parking lot a really scary experience.”
Last year, Jennifer was matched with Potter, a black Labrador retriever and Canine Vision Dog Guide. Jennifer spent a month at the Lions Foundation’s training centre in Oakville, Ont., learning to work with Potter under the guidance of Dog Guides instructors who had prepared him for this milestone. “I remember thinking at the start, ‘why does this training take such a long time? What are we going to do for a whole month?’” she recalls. “Boy, did I learn fast the dedication and commitment required to work with your Dog Guide!”
Within days of returning home, Potter surprised Jennifer by learning the lay of the land quickly. “No matter which direction I’m coming from, when we get to our street, he turns in front of me to let me know we’re there.”
This spring, Jennifer and Potter will be participating in the Purina® Walk for Dog Guides, raising funds so others, too, can experience the exhilaration of navigating the world with a Dog Guide for the first time. “I’d love to see more people come out to these events,” she says of the Walk. “Every dollar counts, and without it, this new independence I have – and which I’m so grateful for – wouldn’t have been possible.”
Jennifer and Potter will also be taking part in the Ride for Dog Guides this summer, a scenic motorcycle tour raising funds to make more matches possible. It’s the second annual Ride taking place in beautiful P.E.I., the first of which had a great turnout. “Potter and I will be following along, and at each stop to greet riders.”
Jennifer and Potter were sponsored by Pet Valu and the Kingston Lions Club in Kingston, Nova Scotia.
Dog Guides Happenings
Volunteer Appreciation Week
April marked Volunteer Appreciation Week, and LFC has a lot to be grateful for: Last year, this vital part of the Dog Guides community contributed more than 3.2 million hours to the cause! Yes, you read that number correctly. This is due to the many areas in which volunteers assist; they help with everything from grooming and socialization of Dog Guides-in-training, to administrative and event tasks, to opening their homes to Future Dog Guides (a 24/7 job!). Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers who helps make this mission possible.
Beyond Sit & Stay
Those in the Halton, Ont., area will want to mark their calendars this summer for Beyond Sit & Stay: Dogs in Our Service, an exhibit curated by the Halton Region Museum, opening this month. The exhibit will comprise eight areas in which dogs assist their human companions, including guide and service dogs.
It’s sure to be an enlightening, family-friendly exhibit for anyone wanting to learn more.
Two Wheels, Big Hearts
Are you a motorcycle enthusiast? Combine your love of the open road with a great cause! The Ride for Dog Guides is a national fundraising event, with individual Rides run by volunteers in several communities across Canada. You just need two wheels and a big heart.
For more information about this easy-to-organize event, visit the website or contact Emelia.
Open House
Rhonda, head instructor in the Service Dog Guides program, gives a demonstration to a packed house
Once again, LFC Dog Guides opened the doors of its training school for the annual spring Open House. This is one of only a few times each year the building is open to the public, and it invites guests to get up-close-and-personal with Dog Guides-in-training, Dog Guides staff, and plenty of Dog Guide puppies. Demonstrations are provided throughout the day in all six programs, so it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the organization’s services.
March Break Visitor
Pierce, along with his dad and sister, made the trip all the way from Kingston, Ont., to visit the Dog Guide training centre during the March break. It was a special trip for the 12-year-old, who had a hard-earned cheque for $300 to donate. Read more about Pierce’s efforts in Amazing Donors’ It Takes a Village.
Spring Classes in Session
Robin, of Saskatoon, Sask., is a first-time recipient of a Canine Vision Dog Guide. He was matched with Mozart (pictured) in early April, and completed 26 days of hands-on training at the school in Oakville, Ont.
In addition to Canine Vision, graduates in the Seizure Response and Hearing Ear programs also began new chapters with their Dog Guides last month. Best wishes to all our grads!
Amazing Donors
Dog Guides & CareAlive Open the TSX
Dog Guides joined Care-Alive in March to open the Toronto Stock Exchange, and raise awareness of epilepsy in doing so. Care-Alive is dedicated to providing support for people with epilepsy, and is a great supporter of Dog Guides’ Seizure Response program.
Our thanks to Care-Alive and the TSX for getting a head start on Purple Day, and helping to increase knowledge of epilepsy!
Jack’s Snooker Club
What started as a chance to meet with friends and play snooker has taken on larger meaning for a group of dedicated residents of Tillsonburg, Ont. Jack’s Snooker Club, a local pub, has made LFC its charity of choice, raising funds to sponsor an Autism Assistance Dog Guide, and now with the goal of doing the same in the Canine Vision program. “We raised money through draws, charity golf, euchre and Wii bowling tournaments, private donations, yard sales and food sold here in the club,” says Jackie, the establishment’s namesake. “It was an idea to start, and it took off like crazy – People were so happy to be involved. It was like we were part of something important that was going to have a happy ending.”
In Memoriam
Bernace Davies was an incredibly generous supporter of Lions Foundation, sponsoring 10 teams over the last five years. After visiting the training school for the first time, she remarked that she was “captivated by the level of service and professionalism” the organization provides.
Mrs. Davies passed away in late April at the age of 97, and left plans to continue to support Lions Foundation.
Our condolences go out to her family and friends.
The Sound of Support
Unitron Canada is a company that changes people’s lives through the hearing instruments it manufactures. Supporting Lions Foundation’s Hearing Ear program is an extension of this wonderful mission, providing Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing with another way to “hear” the world. Over the years, Unitron has sponsored many Hearing Ear Dog Guides, and is the largest supporter of this program. Their staff recently presented a cheque to Lions Foundation for $32,222. Unitron employees donate generously through payroll deductions, volunteer at LFC’s training school, and many also choose to walk in the Purina® Walk for Dog Guides, in Kitchener, Ont.
Work and Play
It’s definitely not all-work-and-no-play for Dog Guides in training! Thanks to a donation from Kong, which makes the distinctive durable rubber toys that so many dog owners rely on, all of our Dog Guides are having extra fun and stimulating their minds when the jackets come off.
Thank you to Kong for nurturing the power of play.
Merial Donation Shows Dedication to Health
Merial, the world’s leading animal health company, has made a generous in-kind donation. The donation of some of the Heartgard and Nexgard for heartworm and flea and tick control, will go to Dog Guide puppies, Dog Guides in training, and all dogs in the breeding program.
Thank you to Merial for making this important contribution to our Dog Guides.
7-Eleven Shows Support Across Canada
Our member organization, Canadian Association of Guide & Assistance Dog Schools (CAGADS) partnered with 7-Eleven for the month of April to raise awareness of service dogs across Canada. 7-Eleven collected customer coin box donations at all of its stores in support of CAGADS. Proceeds from last year’s campaign supported a conference for service dog instructors from across Canada. Thank you, 7-Eleven!
Pet Valu Makes Partnerships Possible
Thanks to Pet Valu’s in-store fundraising campaigns, and its always-generous customers, three more graduates crossed the stage with Pet Valu as their sponsor in April. One Pet Valu-sponsored graduate, Lesleigh, from Charlottetown, P.E.I., had this to say when she met her Dog Guide:
“I’m deeply appreciative of all the work – absolutely everything – that has made him an amazing dog, and can’t thank Dog Guides’ supporters enough.”
Blarney, a Seizure Response Dog Guide, was matched with Lesleigh, thanks to this sponsorship.
It Takes a Village...
Supporters of LFC are always coming up with inventive, inspiring ways to raise funds, and provide more Dog Guides.
Watch this space for the latest events across Canada that you may wish to support.
Barrie Vision Gala - Friday, May 13th in Barrie, Ont.
It’s dining in the dark for a great cause! This event aims to raise the funds to sponsor a Canine Vision Dog Guide, while increasing awareness of blindness and visual impairments by inviting guests to wear blindfolds for the duration of the meal. The event is being co-organized by Dog Guide grad Michelle, whose Canine Vision Dog Guide is Thomson.
For tickets & more information, visit the event’s website.
Other fundraisers to inspire you:
Dogs for Diabetes is being hosted by the family of Bob and his Diabetic Alert Dog Guide Cleo, who graduated earlier this year, and now call Surrey, B.C., home. The Port Coquitlam Lions Club has donated hall space to host the event, which will include raffle and door prizes, a 50-50 draw, and a D.J. for a night of dancing. The event is scheduled for June 6th.
Mowing Lawns for Dog Guides: 12-year-old Pierce or Kingston, Ont., spent last summer mowing lawns, and saved $5 from each job to donate to a cause that mattered to him. By the end of the summer, he had $150 saved. His grandparents are members of the Newburgh-Camden Lions Club, which matched his donation, bringing it to $300 to support a future Dog Guide's training! Pierce plans to do it all again this summer.
Planning your own fundraising:
Got a birthday or a wedding in the planning stages? Many are choosing to celebrate such milestones by forgoing gifts, and asking well-wishers to instead make a donation to Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. Want more details? Get in touch with Ana at
Tee Off for Dog Guides: With warmer weather finally here, golf season is in full swing! Organizing a golf tournament is a fun and easy way to support Dog Guides in the summer months, and we’ve got everything you need to get started. Contact Emelia at or more details.
No Bones About It
News for Dog Guides Graduates & Puppy Raisers - From the Client Services Desk
Legislative Changes for Dogs Guides
British Columbia recently passed legislation to better regulate service and guide dogs in the province. Like Alberta, residents of B.C. can now apply for a provincial I.D. card to certify their Dog Guide. Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides welcomes the new legislation, which protects our graduates and ensures public access rights for certified guide and service dog teams.
Lions Foundation of Canada is an accredited member of International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. Clients living in British Columbia only need to submit a simple form and copy of the Condition of Placement every graduate receives upon completion of training in Oakville.
For more information, please email Megan at , or call 905-842-2891 ext. 222.
Puppy Corner:
Making the Most of Puppy Playdates
Whether visiting the dog park or getting together with a group of puppies, play time with other dogs is a fun and important part of your foster puppy’s socialization. It is important, however, to be mindful of making these play dates a positive experience for your puppy, and minimize the risk of illness or injury for all involved.
Here are some tips and guidelines to keep in mind for positive puppy playdates:
- Young pups should avoid events and areas with heavy dog traffic until they have received their full vaccinations
- Avoid interactions with other dogs if your puppy is ill (for example, cough or diarrhea), or has recently been in contact with an ill dog
- Female dogs in heat should not attend group events or visit dog parks
- Foster puppies are only allowed off leash in a securely-fenced area, and should always be closely supervised
- Limit the number of puppies in an off-leash area at a time, and be mindful of size differences between pups
- Ensure your puppy is under control before releasing them to play
- Mix in some obedience sessions with off-leash play;
- use playtime as a reward for good behaviour around other dogs
- Practice the “Come” command by calling your dog to you during playtime, rewarding them, and then releasing them back to play
- Always be willing to end the play and leave if your puppy or other dogs present are behaving inappropriately
- Contact Puppy Program staff if you have any concerns with your puppy’s interactions with other dogs
Dog Guides Out & About
Lighting the Way
Canine Vision graduate Stephen and his Dog Guide Keegan went for a twilight walk while testing out an illuminated Head-Lite collar, donated to Keegan by the company’s founder.
Puck Puppy
Future Dog Guide Xena and puppy raiser Rosita were all smiles meeting former Toronto Maple Leaf captain Wendell Clark at an event earlier this year.
Broadway Dog Guide
Canine Vision graduate Michelle and her Dog Guide Thomson visited Toronto recently to take in a performance of the hit musical Kinky Boots.
Do These Come in Doggie Sizes?
As Southern Ontario dealt with a late blast of winter, boots were on the shopping list for Olivia, whose Seizure Response Dog Guide Chimo kept a close eye on her.
She’s Got a Ticket to Ride
Seizure Response Dog Guide Quinnah got her own train ticket on a recent trip with handler Martha. Dog Guides travel free on airlines and cross-country rail when with their handler.
Dog Guide Meets Bruiser
Zach and his Autism Assistance Dog Guide Garson met a different kind of dog: Bruiser, the mascot for the Hamilton Bulldogs OHL team.
Inside Dog Guides
Get to know the people who prepare Dog Guides for the important jobs they do
Samantha, Puppy Program
Samantha’s role supports the approximately 250 foster families raising the next generation of Dog Guides
As a coordinator for Lions Foundation’s Puppy Program, Samantha regularly gets told she has “the best job in the world.” But there’s a lot more to it than cuddly puppies. Her department supports the approximately 250 families that are raising the next generation of Dog Guides.
The job, in a nutshell, involves interviewing new foster families, assessing and training puppies, leading obedience classes, staffing whelping shifts, and providing ongoing support to puppy raisers. She answers questions and offers suggestions and strategies to ensure pups all meet the milestones necessary for formal training. And the best part?
“Working with volunteers is something I really enjoy,” she says. “You’re not at a desk all the time, and there’s always something different, or a new problem to solve.”
“My job is to set up our volunteer foster families for success.”
She knew she loved working with people when she spent two years coordinating more than 300 volunteers as part of Western University’s Foot Patrol, a safety service on campus, where she also completed a degree in classical studies. But growing up riding horses, she knew she wanted animals to be a part of the equation as well.
After completing an animal care program, she accepted a job working in the kennels at Dog Guides. “I learned so much about dogs because I got to take care of Dog Guides-in-training for all six programs,” she says. “I was communicating with trainers who all had different needs and requirements, and I learned that there are many different parts of an organization like this one that make the whole thing possible. Without kennel staff and volunteers, we couldn’t do this.”