Get your walking shoes, and your four-legged friend ready! Bayfield is once again hosting its beloved Walk for Guide Dogs on Sunday, and it’s all for a great cause.
Karen Scott, chairperson of the walk’s organizing committee, has been part of the event for more than 20 years.
Each dog costs around $35,000 to breed, train, and match with the right person. The dogs begin their journey in foster homes where they learn basic skills, and then they head to school for more advanced training.
Once their special skill is determined, whether it’s vision assistance, seizure detection, or emotional support, they’re carefully paired with a person in need. The new partners then complete training together, forming a bond that often changes lives.
Of course, service dogs don’t live forever, and the demand for them keeps growing, especially as more uses for these incredible animals are discovered.
So what can you expect this weekend?
After the walk, the fun continues. There will be hot dogs (the food kind, not the walking kind), coffee, water, and two special guest speakers. Marta Rosmans will introduce her foster puppy, Usher, and another guest from Goderich will share their experience of life with a mobility assistance dog.
The Lions Foundation will also share updates on its expanding training school, and attendees will get to see where their donations are going, sometimes literally, in the form of a wagging tail.
While the event doesn’t have a specific fundraising goal, Bayfield has a lot to bark about.
Whether you’re walking for the dogs, with your dog, or just love a good community event, the Walk for Guide Dogs is a feel-good way to get some steps in and support a cause that truly changes lives one paw at a time.
For pledge sheets or more information, contact Karen Scott at 226-441-2042 or by email at karend.scott@eastlink.ca.
Written by: K. Milhomens