In 2018 a small group of local residents brought the walk for Dog Guides to Port Perry. Thanks to the encouragement and help from local business, the local Pet Valu, local media and Focus on Scugog, the Port Perry Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides (“the...
In 2018 a small group of local residents brought the walk for Dog Guides to Port Perry. Thanks to the encouragement and help from local business, the local Pet Valu, local media and Focus on Scugog, the Port Perry Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides (“the Walk”) last year was the largest fundraising walk for the Lions Foundation Dog Guides after the Oakville head office walk. In 2023 we raised a record of $29,677 with 175 people walking with 110 dogs. The Port Perry walk has raised $141,487 for Dog Guides since 2018. Pictures and videos of past walks can be seen by clicking here.
The key benchmarks have always been starting in Palmer Park by the waterfront on the walk’s official date of the last Sunday in May, walking thru beautiful downtown Port Perry and ending the walk at our awesome brewery, The Old Flame.
Terry Vos of Vos Independent Grocer provides the complimentary lunch for participants as well as a generous donation. Local bag pipers lead the walk with traditional Scottish melodies. The Port Perry Pet Valu and Paulmacs pet stores contribute with a very generous goodie bag that is given to all registered walkers. This is truly a major community event for Port Perry.
In July 2023 the first dog guide named Artie arrived in Port Perry. Artie is an autism assistance dog guide. Each Autism Assistance Dog Guide is uniquely trained to meet each autistic child's individual needs. These Dog Guides can provide safety, companionship, calming relief in high-anxiety situations, and reduce the stress commonly experienced in public places. The bond formed between the Dog Guide, autistic child and their family allows for greater independence, social interaction and additional peace of mind when experiencing events in their community. A key goal from day 1 of the Port Perry Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides organizing team was to obtain a dog guide for a local resident!
Since 1984 the Walk for Dog Guides has been a vital national fundraiser in support of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. Taking place in approximately 300 communities across Canada, the Walk raises funds to provide life-changing Dog Guides to Canadians with physical and medical disabilities at no cost to them. The Dog Guides are provided free by the Lions Foundation for vision, seizures, autism, hearing and diabetic alert. A family and dog-friendly event that welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, The Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides relies on the generous support of people like you, volunteers, donors, and partners to meet its goal of giving Canadians a new leash on life. Providing specially trained Dog Guides through seven distinct programs meeting a wide range of needs, Dog Guides increase the independence, mobility, and safety of their handlers.
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides are proud to have graduated 76 Dog Guide teams in 2023 across all seven Dog Guide programs. Watch our latest graduation on our YouTube channel and hear directly from some of our grads about how their new Dog Guide has already positively impacted their life. Pre pandemic graduates numbered in the 150’s. A new state of the art training school is targeted to open in 2025 to meet Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides’ goal of training 250 Dog Guides per year to meet demand.
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides operates under the highest standards. We are a founding member of the Canadian Association of Guide & Assistance Dog Schools and a fully accredited member of International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. Lions Foundation of Canada is recognized as a member of Imagine Canada’s Standards of Excellence program, a charitable organization that meets the highest standards for accountability and openness in its fundraising practices and policies.