Volunteers with the Ponoka Lions are spreading the word about the upcoming Walk for Guide Dogs on May 26.
“Here in Ponoka, we use the trails by the Lions clubhouse on the last Sunday of May every year. People can get pledge forms, or sign up online,” said coordinator Dixie Tyndall, who joined the local club in 2012.
Registration begins at 1 p.m. with the walk set to start at 2 p.m.
A barbecue will be held following the walk as well.
“Everything that we collect in this walk goes to the guide dogs,” she said, adding that if any local resident ever needed a dog, club members would be able to assist them in that process.
“This walk is also all about awareness — we want people to realize that these dogs are available at no cost. That’s the big thing.”
The Lions have a school and training facility in Ontario, and they supply guide dogs to Canadians who need them at no cost — it’s all done through fundraising, said Tyndall.
“The training that goes into these dogs is amazing. They are life-changing. All you have to do is listen to the stories of how they have helped. They give unconditional love all of the time.”
Tyndall was instrumental in launching and organizing the annual walk in Ponoka, and she said the club has seven guide dogs which they have helped to provide.
She also pointed out that people tend to think that the dogs mainly assist those with visual impairment, but their abilities go far beyond that.
There are dogs to help those who are deaf or hard of hearing, seizure response dogs, and service dogs who can help those with a physical or medical disability. These particular dogs are trained to fetch objects, open and close doors and appliances, push automatic buttons, and get help by barking or activating an alert system.
There are even diabetic alert dogs, who can detect extreme sugar highs or lows simply by a client’s breath, dogs for autism assistance who provide safety and companionship, and facility support dogs as well, which are like therapy dogs for Victims Services and the police, for example.
Meanwhile, Tyndall said that funds raised via the annual walk support the training facility in Ontario.
Tyndall also pointed out that the Lions Foundation of Canada does not receive any government funding towards this project either.
Each guide dog costs about $35,000 to raise, train and place.
“Say if someone here in town needed a dog. They would be flown down to Oakville, go through all of the training, and be paired with their dog — and it wouldn’t cost them anything. We do this through fundraising.”
As to the upcoming walk, even if people haven’t raised pledges beforehand, they are welcome to simply show up, make a donation, and participate, said Tyndall.
“I’ve had people walk up and say, ‘What’s going on?’
“And I say, well, if you have $20 to donate, you will get a tax receipt. Join in! And it’s all for a good cause.”
For more about the Walk for Guide Dogs, call 403-704-0304 or email dixietyndall@shaw .ca.