Carly Griggs remembers the moment everything changed.

It was 2017, and she had just returned home to Victoria from Oakville, Ont. after three intensive weeks of training with her first guide dog, a small, fast standard poodle named Jupiter, who was trained to help her with her vision loss.

乌鸦传媒淎ll of a sudden, I felt free,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 could just go out and do whatever I want, whenever I wanted.乌鸦传媒�

It marked the beginning of a journey that乌鸦传媒檚 brought independence, confidence and connection 乌鸦传媒� all delivered on four paws.

Since that day, Carly has had three guide dogs from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides: Jupiter, Clifford, and now Kobe, her current partner for nearly three years.

Living with just four per cent of her vision, Carly was initially hesitant to even use a white cane.

乌鸦传媒淚 didn乌鸦传媒檛 want anyone to know I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 see,乌鸦传媒� she said.

But after tripping off curbs, bumping into people, and nearly spilling her ever-present cup of tea one too many times, she decided it was time for a change.

乌鸦传媒淚 knew I didn乌鸦传媒檛 want to be a cane user forever,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淪o I became a good cane user so that I could apply for a guide dog.乌鸦传媒�

That decision led her to the Lions Foundation, the only program in Canada training standard poodles 乌鸦传媒� an essential detail for Carly, who has allergies and works as a registered massage therapist with clients sensitive to other dog breeds.

乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檝e got way better hair than I乌鸦传媒檒l ever have,乌鸦传媒� she joked. 乌鸦传媒淏ut they乌鸦传媒檙e also smart. Just a little bit mischievous, which I kind of love.乌鸦传媒�

Each of her dogs has come with a unique personality. Jupiter had a habit of choosing his own route when Carly told him it was time to go to work, sometimes heading to Beacon Hill Park instead of her clinic.

乌鸦传媒淲ork for him, I guess,乌鸦传媒� she laughed.

Clifford, her second guide dog, shared that intelligent, slightly cheeky streak. But both Jupiter and Clifford had to retire early after being attacked by other dogs 乌鸦传媒� something Carly says is an unfortunate but not uncommon risk for working guide dogs.

Now, with Kobe by her side, she乌鸦传媒檚 found a steadiness that makes every day easier.

乌鸦传媒淲e kind of laugh 乌鸦传媒� his nickname is Slow-be,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut he乌鸦传媒檚 just even-keeled. He hasn乌鸦传媒檛 let anything shake him, even after two attacks and a near miss.乌鸦传媒�

That resilience matters in a city like Victoria, where off-leash dogs are common.

乌鸦传媒淗e just doesn乌鸦传媒檛 care,乌鸦传媒� Carly said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 going to make him successful. He lets things roll off his back.乌鸦传媒�

Kobe乌鸦传媒檚 calm demeanour and problem-solving nature have allowed Carly to move through the world more freely. Whether navigating a closed sidewalk or a chaotic construction zone, he乌鸦传媒檚 unfazed.

乌鸦传媒淗e loves solving puzzles,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 just a little bit more thinking about things 乌鸦传媒� a little more laid back.乌鸦传媒�

That confidence has reshaped Carly乌鸦传媒檚 life. She乌鸦传媒檚 active in her work, regularly out in the community, and now, she乌鸦传媒檚 looking forward to participating in this year乌鸦传媒檚 Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides, happening May 25 at Esquimalt Gorge Park and Pavilion.

The annual event raises funds to support the Lions Foundation乌鸦传媒檚 seven dog guide programs, which include services for people with vision loss, hearing loss, autism, epilepsy, diabetes, and other medical or physical disabilities. Each dog is provided at no cost to the person matched with them.

For Carly, the walk is more than a fundraiser 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 a celebration of the independence and connection her guide dogs have given her, and a way to help others experience the same life-changing support.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 so much training, so much care that goes into these dogs,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd it乌鸦传媒檚 all possible because people give.乌鸦传媒�

Each walk is locally organized and backed by Pet Valu stores across Canada. Since launching in 1985, the has raised more than $23 million, helping match over 3,000 Canadians with professionally trained service dogs.

This year乌鸦传媒檚 Victoria-area walk will follow a scenic route through Esquimalt Gorge Park, beginning at 10 a.m. Participants 乌鸦传媒� and their dogs 乌鸦传媒� are encouraged to register online or sign up in person the morning of. All proceeds go directly to the Lions Foundation乌鸦传媒檚 training programs.

Whether it was Jupiter乌鸦传媒檚 playful detours, Clifford乌鸦传媒檚 smarts, or Kobe乌鸦传媒檚 steady presence, each of Carly乌鸦传媒檚 dogs has given her more freedom, more confidence, and more connection with the world around her.

乌鸦传媒淚 can乌鸦传媒檛 imagine my life without a guide dog,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檝e changed everything.乌鸦传媒�