Third Annual Walk for Dog Guides in Sharbot Lake

Jeff Green | Jul 28, 2011

Organisers are confident that the weather will co-operate as the Sharbot Lake and District Lions Club hosts an event that will be raising money for a special cause: covering the costs of training guide dogs for use by the visually and hearing impaired, physically challenged and autistic children. For dog owners, the walk is an opportunity to mingle with their favourite people, other dog owners. And there will be treats available for the dogs, and their owners as well.

Carolyn Bond is the principal organiser of this year’s event, and she encourages as many people as possible, dog owners and non-dog owners alike, to come out and support the walk. People are encouraged to collect sponsorships for the 5 km walk, which starts at the Sharbot Lake beach and goes past the Family Health Team onto the Trans-Canada Trail for a couple of kilometres along Sharbot Lake.

People can register or donate online at Purinawalkfordogguides.com. Just look for the walk locator box at the bottom of the page and navigate to Sharbot Lake.

But if all that is too complicated for the dog days of summer, just come out to the Sharbot Lake Beach at 11:30 on Sunday, July 31, and register in person. There is no minimum donation required, and tax receipts will be issued for donations in excess of $20.

“It costs $20,000 for training and other costs through the life of a Dog Guide, and the Lions Foundation is able to put 100% of the money raised at these Dog Guide walks towards covering those costs,” said Carolyn Bond.

As an added bonus this year, one or two people who use Dog Guides will be on hand to do the walk with their dogs.

Carolyn Bond will be at the Sharbot Lake Freshmart on Saturday, July 30, to promote the Sunday walk. She will be joined by another Lions Club member, Jean Graham, and a young pup of Jean’s that is a candidate to be a future Dog Guide.