Anthony Robbins once said “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships”. This holds very true for the specially trained service dogs of the Dogs with Wings program who enter into lifelong service and a companionship relationship with clients who have a variety of needs. The Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society has been providing highly trained Assistance Dogs to Albertans with disabilities since 1996.

Trained guide dogs open up a whole new world of safety, security and independence for those who are visually impaired. Autism Services Dogs become the anchor for a child to prevent them from bolting into dangerous situations, while also providing a calming effect to reduce their anxieties and emotional outbursts. For the families of autistic children the service dogs provide well deserved peace of mind so they can have enjoyable times on their outings. There are also Companion and Facility Dogs that are used in a variety of therapeutic settings like schools, hospitals and treatment programs of various kinds.

Bringing a dog to the point where they are skilled enough to create what Lise, the Volunteer Coordinator, describes as “Magic” in the life of those in need cannot happen without a core of dedicated volunteers. These folks start in the very early days of the puppy’s life creating relationships that are the stepping stones for all the skills the dogs will develop. The volunteer Puppy Cuddlers’ visit puppies during the day at the Dogs with Wings facilities – holding them, touching their feet, face, ears, tail and playing with them all as a means to socialize them early. Through the volunteer Puppy Raising program a puppy of 8 weeks of age to approximately 14 months accompanies the volunteer during the day so they are socialized to as many different environments and situations as possible. Puppies also attend a puppy class once a week.

In the second stage of training the dog moves into a volunteer foster home where they will live for 12 to 14 months while visiting the Dogs with Wings facility every morning where they receive their final training. To ensure that the dogs are never kennelled there are volunteers who provide temporary accommodations through the Boarding Home program so that foster families can have a vacation or last minute trip away. While volunteers are needed throughout their programs the Whelping Home program to help assists with the moms and the new puppies for the first 2 months of their lives are required especially at this time.

Listening to Lise talk about how important the volunteer relationships with the dogs are I understood how sometimes there can be confusion about the organization as it may be seen as a dog organization when in fact they are an organisation that helps people. Volunteers are considered one of the most important determinants in their ability to meet their mission of fostering integration and independence for people with disabilities. Without them they could not achieve all they need to with the dogs. Volunteers are also crucial to help raise the needed funds to support the programs.

One question that lingered in my mind regarding the program – I wondered how volunteers break their attachment to a dog after being with it at such crucial stages of development. Lise welcomed the question and explained that volunteers learn and are supported to hold onto the bigger picture of how a service dog lessens the many daily obstacles encountered by clients so that the quality of their lives increases. Some volunteers have created informal social opportunities at dog parks, or take walks together supporting each other’s commitment to the work. Families have gotten involved as it is a great way to introduce an animal into the home while demonstrating the values of helping others. Attending the graduation and meeting the owner also supports volunteers in having first hand knowledge of the contribution they are making.

For those who prefer other volunteer opportunities to support the program or build their commitment over time there is always the need for volunteers to work Casinos, organize and participate in their yearly Gala, and raise money though their “Pennies for Puppies” program (my daughter has already brought her bag of pennies to her school). Finally they have the Sponsorship program where individuals or groups can sponsor a dog and follow it until it’s ready for service. If you are interested in being part of this amazing network of relationships that train service dogs to help others please contact Lise Benoit at 780-944-8011 or email; puppyschool@dogswithwings.ca.