If you see some motorcycles parked in front of the Churchbridge Evergreen Club at 3:20 PM on Wednesday, June 11, it’s not Rolling Thunder you’re seeing, but Roaring Lions.
A group of Lions Club members from various communities in the province will be stopping in Churchbridge this year as part of their 2022 Ride for Dog Guides.
Because of Covid-19 it’s their first ride together in three years and according to the group’s lead organizer, Tom Armstrong of Saskatoon, the riders are very much looking forward to hitting the highway again.
While the journey is important, the reason for it is what really motivates the riders.
Through the Lions Foundation of Canada, Lions across the country support their Dog Guides program.
At the organization’s training centre in Oakville, Ontario over 3,000 Canadians have been matched with specially trained dogs since the program was founded in 1983.
Initially it provided Canine Vision dogs but since then the foundation has built up its capacity to include seven programs to meet diverse needs.
The added six programs are:
Hearing Dog Guides for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Service Dog Guides for people who have a physical or medical disability.
Seizure Response Dog Guides for people who have epilepsy.
Autism Assistance Dog Guides for children who have autism spectrum disorder.
Diabetic Alert Dog Guides for people who have diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness.
Facility Support Dogs for professional agencies assisting individuals in traumatic situations.
It costs approximately $35,000 to raise and train each of the dogs which are primarily Labrador Retrievers, although some poodles are made available for those with allergies to dogs or other medical conditions which would require a non-shedding breed.
Each dog is trained for four to six months at which point it’s matched with a client who stays at the Oakville centre for ten to 19 days to learn to work with his or her new partner.
All Dog Guides, including training and accommodation at the school for the client, are provided to qualified applicants at no cost.
The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides program receives no government funding, relying on support from Lions Clubs, corporations and individuals across the country to help it meet its mission.
Riders coming to Churchbridge will be available for about half an hour Wednesday, June 11 to provide more information about the Dog Guides program and to accept any donations individuals may wish to give, all of which will go to support the program. Donations of $20 or more will be eligible for a tax receipt.
The exact details of the group’s arrival will be posted on the Churchbridge Lions’ Facebook page.
For further information or to make a donation please contact Lion Bill Johnston, 896-2389 (res.) or 896-2342 (bus.).