The Fifth Annual Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides had some new contributors and more dogs on hand on Sunday.
The walk marked the 40th Anniversary of the national event and raised $3,161 which was a significant increase over 2024. The annual walk raises funds to help Lions Foundation of Canada continue to provide Dog Guides for Canadians with disabilities at no cost to them.
Garry Beaudry who is the local organizer for the Prince Albert Lions Club for the Walk for Dog Guides said that momentum is still growing.
“We’re still kind of the best kept secret in PA,” Beaudry said. “We’re trying, there’s so many things going on right now on this weekend with different walks and runs and everything else. But it is our National Walk Day, so that’s why we’ve been sticking to that day, (and) each year it gets a little better.”
Beaudry is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. He began his two-year term in October, 2024.
The Foundation has set a goal of $1.6 million for this year and online donations rose to more than $800,000 by Sunday.
The team that raised the most money was the Bark Rangers from Park Range Veterinarians with $1,900. Beaudry himself raised nearly $600.
“They beat me in the total but they’ve done a great job for a new organization that came into this,” he explained.
Park Range has always been supportive, Beaudry said, but this year they took it one step further.
“They’ve always handed out our pledge sheets and had posters and they sell our Green Cape calendars in the fall,” he explained. “They’ve always been really great to us, but when I was dropping off the posters, I said, ‘I’ve been trying for four years to get you guys to put a team together.’”
Beaudry said they called the next day to confirm that they were putting in a team.
Park Range bookkeeper Michelle Avey said the employees embraced the idea when the time came to create a team.
“Everybody was really excited to bring their dogs and to support such a great cause,” she said. “Everybody was on board when Brenda (Smith) brought up the idea. We were all excited.”
Avey said Park Range’s customers also embraced the concept.
The walk started at 15th Avenue and River Street. Participants could go as far as the Elks Club or turn around if they wanted. Participants who went the full distance walked four kilometers before returning for hot dogs.
Beaudry said acts like those done by Park Range are the kind of momentum that the Walk is looking for.
“We’d like to see a little more corporate sponsorship, but that’ll come,” he said. “It just takes time to work on it. Like I say, there’s so many things going on out there.”
The local Pet Valu was on hand to support the event with dog treats for the walkers and a draw. Because they are the national sponsor, the event is called the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides in support of the Lions Dog Guides.
Beaudry loves the work of the Guide Dog program hence his seat as the chair.
He said providing dog guides to residents in need is very important to Lions Clubs across the province. Dogs can do more than help guide residents with low or no vision. They can also be trained as alert dogs for people prone to seizures.
“A dog guide makes a world of difference in a person’s life,” he said. “You’d go from somebody with hearing that can’t hear anything and they’re at home alone and the fire alarm goes off, they can’t hear it. The dog’s going to save their life by getting them out of the house. Like, that dog will not stop until they leave the House….
“So many people have talked to us about how their dog saved their life when they were walking out into an intersection and the dog jumped in front of them and stopped them from walking in a car went by, so a dog guide makes such a big difference in everybody’s life that they get. It is life changing.”
Beaudry it costs $35,000 to raise, train and match a dog to the clients.
“Plus we don’t stop there. We support that dog for their whole service career. It’s quite expensive but it’s all at no cost to the client whatsoever,” he said.
“We solely operate on donations from the public, Lions Clubs and corporate,” he said.
They are currently in the process of constructing a new 82,000 square foot state of the art training centre in Oakville.
“Unfortunately, we have outgrown our old school and it’s not adequate for what we do,” Beaudry explained. “The hallways are narrow. You’ve got people in wheelchairs working with a service dog, and you meet somebody else in the hallway and nobody can get by each other.
“Right now our construction is on time,” he added. “We plan on taking possession of our new building in March of 2026 and once we’re into it and all set up and got everything rolling we plan on being able to just about double our output of dogs in a year.”
Beaudry said the new school was another reason to support the Walk for Dog Guides
“We’re always looking for donations and that so it’s great cause to support.”
Beaudry said the event couldn’t have been a success without the sponsors. Because of the local business donations there was no cost to the Lions Club.
Beaudry hopes more people and businesses are out next year to support the Walk for Dog Guides.
“If you still decide you want to support the walk go to Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides (website) and at the top right hand corner, I believe, there’s a donate button there,” he said. “Please, your support would be so much appreciated.”
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
