Donald Teuma-Castelletti
SHAWVILLE May 27, 2018
Just over 20 folks laced up their runners and leashed up their canine companions on Sunday morning, taking part in Shawville’s first Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides.
Organized by Shawville resident Chelsea Smith, her hope was to bring awareness to the life-changing benefits that an assistance dog can bring to an individual, and their family.
Hosting walkers at the Shawville Fairgrounds entrance, participants gathered together closer to the 11 a.m. start time. Shortly before it was set to start, Smith welcomed everyone and introduced two guest speakers to the crowd.
First up was Jim Coffey, whose son, Taïgan, has autism and benefits from the assistance of an autism service dog.
“We didn’t really know what [the dog] would mean for our family … These dogs change the lives of families like ours,” said Coffey. “As kids are growing up, they’re a little bit like a moving target as to what they’re learning, when and why, but shortly after receiving Comet, Taïgan … started to speak more than he had ever spoken before. He’s a great companion for our family.”
He continued to say that not only is Comet great for his son at home, but he’s excellent while travelling, too. The Coffeys even use their dog to educate people abroad on the benefits of a service dog.
Following him was Mike Hodgins, who brought along his visual assistance dog, Nellie. Hodgins spoke of the difference she’s made in his life and how Nellie has benefitted his whole family, to the point that they’re planning to adopt her when she’s retired.
“She’ll remain with us because she’s part of our family and she helps me very much getting along,” said Hodgins. “Going just for a casual walk along the trail or when I tell her we’re going to go down to the mail, she knows enough to turn the other way down the street … or go to the ice cream stand here in Shawville – she loves that store because she licks the floor when we’re sitting there.”
Hodgins also shared some entertaining anecdotes on how Nellie helps him with their walks through town.
“She stays straight on the sidewalks,” said Hodgins. “But she doesn’t know that the branches are about my head height and I’ll get the branches in the face.”
When the speakers wrapped up, Smith announced that it was time to hit the trail, and gave a brief outline of the course they’d be taking part in.
Then, once the group had collected dog waste bags, they set off.
Participants had the choice between two routes: a three-kilometre trek, up to the PPJ trail and just past Pontiac High School and back; or the six-kilometre route, continuing past that to the Moffat line and back.
Accompanying the walk was a chance to win one of three gift baskets, featuring a variety of goodies for the four-legged participants.
As well, the Shawville Lions’ Club held a barbeque in conjunction with the event, as the walk is a Lions Foundation-affiliated program.
By the end of the day, when the pledges had been added up, Smith and her volunteers had raised a grand total of $1,400.
“This is great for the first time, and we’re hoping to make it an annual event,” said Debbie Smith, Chelsea’s mother.
While this was the first time it had been held in Shawville, the walk takes place in over 300 communities across Canada, all on the same day. This particular walk was supported by not only the Shawville Lions, but the Renfrew Pet Valu location.
The Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides supports the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which looks to provide medical assistance dogs to individuals who suffer from hearing or vision issues to seizures, autism and diabetes.
This was the first time that the Shawville Lions’ Club had helped out with such a walk and were proud to credit Chelsea for her determination in bringing it to town. Lions member Terry Campbell said that events like this, looking to support locals like Hodgins, were a great cause for the group to get behind.
“Anything we can do to support the foundation, it’s a given,” said Campbell.
