Ponoka will host one of 240 Walks for Dog Guides happening across the country this weekend.
 
The Ponoka Lions Club is organizing the walk for a 5th year on Sunday, to raise funds for 6 different service dogs that change the lives of those living with vision problems, mobility issues, autism, hearing impairment, epilepsy and type 1 diabetes.
 
As Chairperson Dixie Tyndall explains, they are facing increasing demands for service dogs.
 
“The autism I was told we’re not taking any more applicants at this time because we have such a long waiting list. We have a breeding facility so we do raise our own puppies but then they have to go out for a year of fostering, so the demand for the dogs is actually higher than what we can produce at the moment. But the more we can fundraise the more dogs we can put into people’s hands that need them”.

Tyndall says it’s a large investment into each dog which they don’t pass along to the recipients.

“It costs $25,000 a dog from start to finish and the Lions Foundation does not receive any government funding, we do it all through local fundraisers and for Canadians if they require a dog, it goes to them at no cost”.

Last year the Ponoka walk raised just over $4,000, this year they hope to bring in $5,000.

Sunday’s walk is happening at Centennial Park in Ponoka, registration at 1, walk at 2pm.

You can also offer your support at Walk for Dog Guides