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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 8, 2014 | 8 Interlocking & Concrete Specialists WE ALSO DO LANDSCAPE DESIGN · Pebble Concrete · Stamped Concrete · Flagstone · Walkways · Garage Floors · Patios · Driveways · Curbs (French) This week was proclaimed International Assistance Dog Week in Oakville. Sandy Turney, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides Oakville executive director (left), with future dog guide Dalia (also pictured below), and Ward 3 Councillor Dave Gittings with his foster dog guide-in-training, Yuri (the pup is also at top left). | photos Dog guides trained to be a help mate continued from p.1 people who are blind, hearing impaired, in a wheelchair, or have epilepsy, autism or Type 1 diabetes. "(The dogs) are fostered locally by families until they're 12 months old then they're trained anywhere from three to six months by our trainers," Turney said. When a dog is matched with someone, the new Since 1952 by Franki Ikeman ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Tel: 905.842.7171 Call Mario · sunmarlandscape.com Carpet Cleaning Specialists On The Spot! Residential & commeRcial Wall to Wall FURnitURe & UPHolsteRY aRea RUGs PeRsian & oRiental e l a S r e m o f Sum s y a D Hazy 3 3 3 Best Sunrooms Best Awnings Best Windows & Doors Truck Mount In-Plant Service Water damage Restoration See the transformation of what we can do in relation to others! 2006-2013 2013 2002-2013 ebsite Visit our NEW W om siwindows.c VOTED BEST CARPET & RUG CLEANERS 13 YEARS IN A ROW! drop-off discount! 25% FREE 250 mL SPOTTING BOTTLE www.onthespotcleaning.ca q tion, has not r of this promo way. any n's is not a sponso *** Tim Horto zes and does not endorse it in pri the provided . 175 Nebo Rd 78 80 557 590 Hamilton Bronte Toll-Free 1-866-575-8078 **Offer not applicable on basement window or storm door purchases. Offer valid only on purchases made between July 1st 2013 to August 31st 2014. qsiwindows.com 905-825-4256 1446 WaLLacE Rd. OakvILLE, ON QEW Speers Wallace owner lives at the school until they get to know their companion. Dog Guides Canada estimates it costs $25,000 to train and place each animal. The organization receives no government grants so the majority of its funding comes from donations. Dog Guides Canada communications manager Natalie Moncur said the dogs help provide a "completely changed lifestyle" for their owners. "They have more independence, more safety, they can do things maybe they couldn't do on their own before and some of those things might seem small to us, but to them, are monumental," Moncur said. Most of the canines come from a Dog Guides Canada breeding facility in Breslau, Ont., near KitchenerWaterloo. Ward 3 Town Councillor and member of Oakville's Accessibility Advisory Committee Dave Gittings, and his family's foster puppy , Yuri, were at a flag raising to mark the proclamation. Dog Guides Canada estimates 65 per cent of foster puppies graduate and those unable to complete the training are placed for adoption through an in-house service. Gittings said his family has fostered 10 dog guides. "Seeing the difference these dogs can make in a person's life and in the family's life -- (we've) got to support it," he said.