Canadians with disabilities have relied upon dog guides for decades.
The opportunity to support those dogs and individuals is coming to the North Okanagan at the end of May.
Enderby is hosting the 10th annual Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides, at the Lions Gazebo in Riverside Park.
Sponsored by the Enderby and District Lions Club and the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, the walk is the largest of its kind in Canada, taking place in more than 300 communities across the country. The foundation assists Canadians with a medical or physical disability by providing them with dog guides at no cost.
“Each dog guide costs approximately $35,000 to raise, train and place,” said Jean Early with the local club, which raised $7,000 at last year’s walk.
The walk will take place on Sunday, May 26, with registration at 9 a.m. and the walk beginning at 10 a.m. There will be three walk lengths to choose from; two kilometres, two and half km and five km. There will be refreshments and snacks available before the walk and hot dogs afterwards.
Dog Guides Canada trains seven different types of dog guides:
- Canine Vision Dog Guides for people who are blind or visually impaired;
- Hearing Ear Dog Guides for people who are deaf or hard of hearing;
- Service Dog Guides for people who have a physical disability;
- Seizure Response Dog Guides for people who have epilepsy;
- Autism Assistance Dog Guides for children who have autism spectrum disorder;
- Diabetic Alerts Dog Guides for people who have Type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness;
- Facility Support Dog Guides assist professional agencies working with vulnerable people who have experienced trauma.
For those who want to participate in the walk, they can get pledge sheets at the Enderby Library, Enderby Jewellers, M.V. Beattie Elementary and the Enderby Garage Sale (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) or from Adele at 250-838-7855 or Jean at 250-838-7410.
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