Easter egg hunt for dogs raises funds for canine charity
An Easter egg hunt held just outside of Calgary on Good Friday was not just for kids, but also for our furry friends.
Hundreds of colourful dog treat-filled eggs were hidden around Calaway Park’s parking lot for the 26th annual National Service Dog (NSD) Easter Egg Hunt.
Four-legged participants, with help from their humans, hunted and collected eggs with a chance to win prizes.
With size on her side, finding eggs was easy for 11-year-old Great Dane Avye.
“Able to open them up on her own. She got a full carton very quickly,” said her owner.
Avye, an 11-year-old Great Dane, sniffs some special Easter eggs at the 26th annual National Service Dog Easter Egg Hunt. (CTV News)
The annual event spans across Canada and is also taking place in five Ontario cities, including Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, London, Windsor and Hamilton.
All funds raised through the hunts support National Service Dogs' certified service dog programs.
“The more money each pooch raises through pledges, the more prizes they receive,” explained Alison Archambault, NSD board chair and puppy raiser.
Since 1996, NSD has bred, trained and placed certified service dogs with children with autism.
NSD has graduated over 55 certified service dog teams and has helped many service dog organizations around the world start their own programs.
“The cost to raise a service dog is approximately $50,000 from pre-birth right through their entire career which is about 10 years,” said Archambault.
“We give those service dogs to our clients free of charge, so events like this are critical in raising funds.”
For more information on National Service Dogs, you can head to their website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.