Canines cavort for treats
Hundreds of excited dogs ran through Burgoyne Woods Friday morning with wagging tails in tow.
The frolicking canines were participating in the sixth annual Easter Egg Hunt for Dog, a fundraising event to support National Service Dogs — a not-for-profit organization that trains dogs to be placed with children with autism and other disabilities, as well as veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Although the event usually brings in about $4,000 for the program, co-ordinator Marcedes Vallance said far more dog lovers participated this year enjoying the warm sunny weather, Friday.
“Everyone has a great time coming out and bringing their dogs. It’s great for kids too,” she said. “They all have a blast.”
Many of the dogs that participated in the egg hunt were dressed for the occasion, including Peanut, a cairn terrier.
“He wears a bunny suit every year,” said Peanut’s owner St. Catharines resident Pauline Gwizd. “Last year he wore a pink bunny suit.”
Although many dogs might frown on the idea of dressing like an animal they’d prefer to chase, Gwizd said her cairn terrier doesn’t seem to mind.
And although Peanut spent the morning with hundreds of other dogs hunting for plastic eggs filled with dog treats, Gwizd said it was another dog that missed out on the event that motivated her to participate.
She’s helping to train a service therapy named Chuck, she said. But the excitement of “having him around all these crazy dogs might be too much for him,” she said.
Nevertheless, she said Chuck “is why we do it.”
Vallance said the St. Catharines hunt grows every year, with new sponsors coming on board. But it’s still the smallest of seven similar events held in Ontario and Alberta.
In total, she said the events are expected to bring in more than $55,000 to help cover the cost of the training.
“It’s really needed. Even in Niagara there’s a lot of autism and a lot of people suffering, and the service dogs are there to help,” she said.