It乌鸦传媒檚 rare that a charitable organization乌鸦传媒檚 volunteers outnumber the people it supports, but when it comes to dogs, many, it seems, are eager to offer a helping paw.
White Rock乌鸦传媒檚 Liz Cowley contacted Peace Arch News this week to bring awareness to a charity that takes four-legged friends out for a walk if circumstances prevent their owners from doing so.
In Cowley乌鸦传媒檚 case, she had knee surgery and was unable to take her two-year-old rescue dog, Kevin, out for some fresh air. She enlisted the help of Elder Dog Canada.
Four times a week, Cowley said, a volunteer from Elder Dog Canada would swing by her place, pick up Kevin, and take him for a walk.
It was such a benefit, Cowley said, that she volunteered her services in an outreach capacity to give back to the organization that helped her in a time of need.
乌鸦传媒淚t was wonderful,乌鸦传媒� Cowley said. 乌鸦传媒淚 would have been stuck乌鸦传媒� How would I have walked my dog? I live on my own and he wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 have had any walks while I was (recuperating) and it乌鸦传媒檚 a free service.乌鸦传媒�
Cowley put PAN in touch with Elder Dog乌鸦传媒檚 Christina Saremba.
Saremba said the organization has about 300 volunteers at its disposal in the Lower Mainland, but only about 40 clients who use the service.
The organization is searching for more clients who can not only make use of its walking services, but some of its other dog-care supports.
乌鸦传媒淭he other is transportation,乌鸦传媒� Saremba said. 乌鸦传媒淪ometimes seniors don乌鸦传媒檛 have a way to get their dog either to the groomer or the vet. So we help with that as well.乌鸦传媒�
Volunteers also offer minor grooming services. For example, Saremba said, they have a client who can walk his dogs, but his knees don乌鸦传媒檛 allow him to brush his golden Labrador.
乌鸦传媒淗e needs to be brushed quite frequently. So we have some volunteers go by a couple times a week and brush. We乌鸦传媒檙e talking minor grooming,乌鸦传媒� Saremba said.
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Saremba said the organization will also pick up dog food or supplies and offer some fostering services.
乌鸦传媒淓ither the (senior) knows ahead of time they乌鸦传媒檙e going to go to the hospital for, perhaps, surgery. So they would like to arrange for one of our fosters to look after their dog or dogs,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Some seniors, Saremba said, refuse to go to the hospital unless they can find a caregiver for their dog.
乌鸦传媒淢ore often than not we get calls from hospital social workers or family members that hear about Elder Dog and they have a senior that won乌鸦传媒檛 go to the hospital because someone has to look after their dog. We乌鸦传媒檒l do that.乌鸦传媒�
On some occasions, Elder Dog will re-home a dog if a senior moves into long-term care or subsidized housing where they can乌鸦传媒檛 keep the pet, or if the senior passes away.
乌鸦传媒淲e will look after re-homing,乌鸦传媒� Saremba said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e not a rescue organization. We乌鸦传媒檝e got to be clear about that.乌鸦传媒�
Saremba said COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in the number of people willing to volunteer for the organization. Since December, they have received more than 100 applications.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 grown exponentially. It乌鸦传媒檚 crazy.乌鸦传媒�
While the number of volunteers drastically outnumbers clients, Saremba said the organization is still accepting applications because some areas still need coverage.
An Ontario filmmaker, meanwhile, recently premiered a documentary about the organization.
Dwight Storring of Kitchener, Ont. aired 乌鸦传媒楧og乌鸦传媒檚 Best Friend乌鸦传媒� on YouTube at the end of January to bring awareness to the efforts made by Elder Dog Canada.
Elder Dog was founded in Nova Scotia in 2009 by Dr. Ardra Cole and now operates across the country.
The 50-minute film explores 乌鸦传媒渢he life-changing stories of five families and their dogs. Viewers will meet an aging Great Dane, an athletic German shorthaired pointer, a wire-haired rescue dog, two French bulldogs, and a bull mastiff as they navigate their changing family circumstances.乌鸦传媒�
For more information about Elder Dog visit www.elderdog.ca or contact 1-855-336-4226 or email info@elderdog.ca
