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27 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 29, 2009 Walk for Dog Guides helps people live independently Residents of Oakville are making a difference in the lives of Canadians with disabilities by participating in the Purina Walk for Dog Guides. Oakville is just one of the many locations set to host a walk on Sunday (May 31) at the Lions Foundation of Canada. There is no registration fee and people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities are invited to participate. The Purina Walk for Dog Guides is the Lions Foundation of Canada's largest fundraising event. This event helps the Foundation match deserving Canadians with Dog Guides. Gabrielle Pitt, an Oakville resident, has been working with her Hearing Ear Dog Guide, Maggie, since 2007. "Maggie and I are a great match," says Pitt. "She helps me live the way I used to live. I feel more independent now in my own home." Since 1985, walks in communities across Canada have collectively raised close to $6 million in support of dog guide training programs. Each dog guide costs approximately $20,000 to raise and train yet they are provided to each eligible candidate at no cost. Join other Canadians along with your furry friend Sunday and participate in the Purina Walk for Dog Guides. Help continue to provide dog guides to other deserving Canadians. For more information or to locate your local Purina Walk for Dog Guides, visit www.purinawalkfordogguides.com or call 1800-768-3030. The national sponsors for this year include: Nestlé Purina PetCare, Air Canada, Kids' Horizons, OMNI, Via Rail Canada, Urban Advertising and Design, Paul Boddum, Jim Craigmyle and Dogs in Canada. Because of the support from the sponsors of the walk, 100 per cent of the proceeds from the event go directly toward Lions Foundation of Canada and its dog guide programs. If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824.