Abandoned puppies lead downward doggie class
Downward dogs took a back seat to puppy love Saturday as Ottawa’s first puppy yoga class was launched to a chorus of “ahh”s.
Maple, Cedar, Ash and Everest — eight-week-old multi-coloured mystery mix puppies — wagged and licked their way through two puppy yoga classes Saturday as a fundraiser for Ottawa Dog Rescue held at Inner Soul and Cycle.
The litter of puppies was discovered abandoned in a box in November and for the first weeks of their lives were fed a goat-milk based formula every three hours, said Andrea Valois, president of Ottawa Dog Rescue. The puppies are now up for adoption and Valois said she expects as many as 80 people to apply to adopt one of the four canine siblings.
Saturday ’s two puppy yoga classes were, in part, an effort to draw attention to and raise funds for the rescue operation that fosters 150 dogs a year and to help socialize the puppies.
It was also to add a little fun to yoga class, said Lindsey Roos, coowner of Inner Soul and Cycle.
“It is really just a relaxing afternoon and a good way to keep warm.”
Yoga with animals is not unheard of. Goat yoga is a much-photographed phenomenon.
Roos said she has never heard of puppy yoga before, but would be keen to do more after being overwhelmed by the response to the studio’s first puppy yoga class. The two classes, which required a $15 minimum donation from each participant, were sold out well in advance.
“We would like to make it a regular thing. As long as there are puppies available, we are available for them.”
It might not be the most serious yoga, she said, but it has benefits.
“Puppies will make you laugh and lick your face.”