Almost 28-hundred people have been provided with support dogs from the Lions Foundation of Canada and its Dog Guide training centre. All across the country, funds are being raised to support this program and this Sunday is Saskatoon’s Walk For Dog Guides, organized by the Downtown Lions Club. The start and end point is at Pet Valu on Kensington Boulevard with registration at 10:30 and the walk at 11.

The dog training centre trains 7 types of guide dogs, for sight, hearing, helping with physical disabilities, seizure response, autism assistance, diabetic alerts and trauma support. Local organizer for Saskatoon’s event, Ray Ramage explains that he has a hearing dog guide. He gives the example of his dog alerting him to noises like an alarm going off or the phone ringing and directing him to where the noise is coming from. The dog also recognizes his owner’s name and if someone sees him on the street and calls for him, the dog will alert him. It takes about $25-thousand to raise and train a dog guide.

Ramage says everyone and their dogs are welcome to the Walk For Dog Guides on Sunday.