Maggie gets a cool scrubbing at the 2015 Widdifield Lion’s Club Dog Wash and Barbeque.
Volunteers were kept busy at the Widdifield Lion’s Club Dog Wash and Barbeque with a line up of four legged clientele Sunday afternoon.
Northern Occasion offered space with the event held in the store’s parking area which had great drive by exposure to entice owners to bring in more dirty dogs.
Organizer Melanie Pigeau is an active volunteer with the Widdifield Lion’s Club. Her love of dogs is evident in her career with the Blue Sky Animal Hospital. She has a volunteer team of dedicated dog washers as well.
Pigeau helped organize the successful Purina Walk For Dog Guides last weekend that raised over $3000 dollars. Pigeau explains that her club supports the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides with the mission of assisting Canadians with a medical or physical disability by providing them Dog Guides at no cost.
Tania Gagnon (left) and Olivia Gagnon volunteer for The Lions Foundation for Guide Dogs. Both attend Grade 10 at École secondaire catholique Algonquin.
Pigeau plans the dog wash the weekend after the walk to keep up the awareness for the need for Dog Guides for some community members.
Pigeau recited the six different programs.
Canine Vision Dog Guides are for people who are blind or visually impaired;
there are Hearing Ear Dog Guides for people who are deaf or hard of hearing;
Service Dog Guides are for people with a medical or physical disability;
Seizure Response Dog Guides are for people who have epilepsy;
Autism Assistance Dog Guides help children with autism spectrum disorder; and
Diabetic Alert Dog Guides help people who have type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness.
Pigeau introduced me to the team of Melody Wright Sampson and Faith, her black Labrador retriever. Melody says Faith is more than her working dog. “I’ve had her for seven years and she’s my best friend.”
Melody explained that she only has central vision therefore Faith was trained as a seeing eye dog, navigating sidewalks and curbs for her. Melody is also hearing impaired so Faith will alert her if someone is at the door.
The Lions Foundation does not receive any government funding and relies on the support of fundraising events like the Widdifield Lion’s Club Dog Wash and Barbeque. The club’s hard work on Sunday raised almost $500 dollars.
About 2000 people have been provided with Dog Guides since 1983. It can cost $25,000 dollars to train a Dog Guide.
Melody Wright Sampson and Faith
There are more photos in the gallery.
