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(Photo: CACAC)
volunteers needed

Dogs with Wings brings puppy raising program to Red Deer

Mar 4, 2021 | 8:35 PM

For dog lovers, what would be better than helping raise a puppy that will grow up to help people in need?

Dogs with Wings (DWW) is launching a new volunteer puppy raising program in Red Deer this Spring.

It’s a satellite puppy raising program where volunteers raise, train, and foster puppies from 8 weeks old to 14 – 16 months old and prepare them to become Service Dogs when they grow up. The Red Deer program will need full time puppy raisers and boarding homes, to puppy sit when puppy raisers are away.

The Red Deer program will join three other locations in Edmonton, Calgary, and Grande Prairie.

Dogs with Wings has partnered with the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) in Red Deer. In October 2020, they placed their Facility Dog, DWW Quinn, at the CACAC to assist them in the important work they do in the community.

“Having Quinn as a part of our Child & Family Advocacy program provides a huge amount of comfort not only to the children and youth coming through our doors, but to their families and our entire staff as well,” says Mark Jones, CEO, CACAC. “We’re excited for Central Alberta to have the opportunity to be a part of a program that has such a great impact in our community – these puppies are going to make a huge difference in many lives, starting with their foster families.’”

Quinn is DWW’s fifth Assistance Dog to live in Red Deer, alongside Facility Dog DWW Harley at the Red Deer City Victim Services, two Companion Dogs, and one Autism Service Dog.

Dogs with Wings relies heavily on the assistance of volunteer puppy raisers to be able to have our dogs earn their wings and graduate with a client. Their dogs help individuals with a wide range of tasks, ranging from assisting individuals who use wheelchairs, to providing safety and support to children with Autism, to assisting children and adults with disabilities at home and in their communities, and working with organizations to assist them in their community work.

They are looking for five volunteer Puppy Raisers and three volunteer Boarding Homes to welcome puppies into their home this spring.

“Puppy Raisers are the cornerstone of our training program at Dogs with Wings,” says Doreen Slessor, Executive Director, Dogs with Wings.

“At the heart of every successful assistance dog team is a puppy raiser who embraced the opportunity to raise a special puppy, teach them to feel safe in the world, and help them learn the skills necessary to have a solid foundation for their working career. We look forward to expanding this program to the Red Deer community.”

For more information, visit www.dogswithwings.ca.