in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 5, 20 18 | 40404 OSC Smile Moment of the Week Week Seven Photo Contest Winner Photographer: Terry Jackson Sponsored by: The Oakville Beaver Age Division: U14 Boys Presented by: General $8.50 | Children & Seniors $6.50 | All seats Tues $5.00 171 Speers Road, Oakville (at Kerr St.) 905-338-6397 (MEWS) www.film.ca Film.CA CinemAS ShowTimeS For June 29-July 5 2018 newThiSweek: AnT-mAnAndThewASp Ant-MAn And theWAsp (pG) Fri - Thu: 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:30 sicArio: dAy of the soldAdo (14A) Fri - Thu: 1:15, 3:45, 7:00, 9:40 JurAssic World: fAllen KinGdoM (14A) Fri - Thu: 12:45, 3:30, 7:30, 9:50 the incredibles 2 (pG)the incredibles 2 (pG)t Fri - Thu: 11:30 AM, 1:00, 4:00, 6:45, 9:00 oceAn's 8 (14A) Fri - Wed: 2:00, 4:15, 6:30, 10:10, Thu: 2:00 PM trolls (G)trolls (G)t Fri, Mon - Thu: 10:30 AMFri, Mon - Thu: 10:30 AMFri diAry of AWiMpy Kid (pG) Fri, Mon - Thu: 10:50 AMFri, Mon - Thu: 10:50 AMFri dr. seuss' horton heArs AWho! (G) Fri, Mon - Thu: 10:40 AMFri, Mon - Thu: 10:40 AMFri hotel trAnsylvAniA 3: suMMer vAcAtion (G) Thu: 5:00, 6:30, 10:00 the first graduate of the Oakville-based Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides who has been trained as a support dog. Initially considered as a candidate for the founda- tion's autism support dog program - previously one of six specific programs dogs are trained for - Dog Guide officials believed Journey's gentle demea- nour also could be used for another purpose - helping children and adults in cri- sis, either as victims or witnesses of a crime or sudden tragedy, in their dealings with police and the justice system. So Journey began her ... journey to become a sup- port dog for the Halton re- gional police victim servic- es unit. At seven weeks old she went to live with a foster family, the Gagnons, in Er-family, the Gagnons, in Er-f in, Ont. She stayed with them for almost the entire time, until she was about 13 months old, learning to be around and socializing with people. After that, Journey went to the Lions Founda- tion for about five months of intensive training. She was unveiled on June 20 at the foundation's headquarters on Wilson Street in Oakville, where Journey was handed off to her new handler, Kathleen Cox, Halton police's victim quick response co-ordina- tor. The victim services unit named the Lab. "It exemplifies the fact that when victims are healing they go on a jour- ney," Clark said of the dog's name. "Journey is the founda- tion's first Support Dog Guide. She was selected for her calm demeanour,for her calm demeanour,f and trained to the highest level of obedience and to be nonreactive in different types of situations," said Sandy Turney, executive director of the Lions Foun- dation. "We hope to train many more as one Support Dog Guide can help hun- dreds of victims." Support Dog Guides are intended to provide uncon- ditional comfort to those involved in traumatic situ- ations. "The Support Dog Guide will provide on- scene support when re- quested to those most vul- nerable in our community, as well as provide added support to persons provid- ing difficult disclosure to police for crimes such as child abuse, sexual as- sault, etc." said Kimberley Clark, Halton police's vic- tim services unit adminis- trator. Clark said the service had been mulling over the value of pursuing a sup- port dog for about two years. "I contacted the Lions Foundation and our (for- mer) deputy chief, Carol Crowe ... I think that's one of the reasons why it hap- pened as quickly as it did. "We anticipate once we introduce the dog the pro- gram will expand. Journey is going to be well-loved." Halton officers will have the ability to ask a victim or their family if the presence of a dog would be welcome when police talk to a victim, either in their home or at a police station. "When an officer ar- rives on a scene, like with an elderly person whose had their home broken in- to, the officer might think the dog would be a help in the situation," said Clark. The Lab might even go to a courthouse to be with a witness, possibly even in a courtroom, with the per- mission of a judge. The dog's other benefit is for officers themselves. "Particularly for offi- cers who may have had a difficult day. The last 40 minutes each day" of the support dog's 7 a.m.-3 p.m. shift "would be cuddle time with officers," Clark noted. Longtime Lions Foun- dation instructor Alissa Mendelson, Journey's pri- mary trainer, said that un- like other Dog Guides, who are usually off limits to the public when it comes to physical interaction such as petting and hugging, the general public can touch a support dog, with permis- sion from its handler. It's even more hands-on for victims involved withfor victims involved withf police. Mendelson says they have "free rein" to touch Journey. "She's the first Dog Guide who should have a sign that says, 'Touch me.'" Mendel- son said she worked with Jour- ney every weekday, spending about one-1 ½ hours each day with her, among the eight-10 Dog Guides at one time that she helps train. As far as Journey's at- tributes, Mendelson said, "We picked her specifical- ly for her temperament - calm, gentle, affectionate, intuitive and a quick learner. "It's been a great learn- ing experience" for her, said Mendelson. "Hopeful- ly she'll be helping hun- dreds of people." She said Journey's fos- ter family "did an amazing job" with her. Bonnie Gagnon, who fostered Journey with herfostered Journey with herf husband, was at the hand- off of Journey from the Lions Foundation to Hal- ton police. They hadn't seen each for a couple of months but when Journey saw Bonnie the normally docile dog jumped excited- ly and swirled around Bonnie's feet "It's lovely to see her re- membering (me)." Bonnie said being a sup- port dog is a natural role for Journey.for Journey.f "It's so her personality. I guess all those nights snug- gling up with her paid off." Clark said Journey will have her own office and bed on police grounds and will go home at night with her civilian police handler. "I think every (police) victim services unit should have one," she said of a support dog. Clark noted that in this area only Toronto, Brant- ford and Niagara policeford and Niagara policef have one. It is not cheap to train a Dog Guide. Each one costs an average of $25,000 to train, but they are provid- ed free to qualifying Cana- dians. Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides re- ceives no government funding and relies solelyfunding and relies solelyf on donations from individ- uals, corporations and fundraisers.fundraisers.f More than 2,700 Dog Guides of various abilities have been placed with peo- ple across Canada. Clark said $5,000 raised by the Canadian Security Association at a golf tour- nament will be donated to the Lions Foundation. As for Journey's ongo- ing costs, like food and vet bills, they will be covered by Halton police. Journey will be sworn in as an official member of Halton police on Aug. 19 at the Burlington Conven- tion Centre. Visit www.dogguides- .com for more information about Dog Guides. * * * The Support Dog Guide is the newest and seventh program for the Lions Foundation. The other six are: • Canine Vision Dog Guides - for people who are blind or visually impaired; • Hearing Dog Guides - for people who are deaf orfor people who are deaf orf hard of hearing; • Service Dog Guides - for people with a physicalfor people with a physicalf disability; • Seizure Response Dog Guides - for people with ep- ilepsy; • Autism Assistance Dog Guides - for children (aged three-12) on the au- tism spectrum; • Diabetic Alert Dog Guides - for people who have Type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemic unaware- ness. NEWS lContinued from page 5 Public invited to hug and pet support dogs "We picked her specifically for her temperament - calm, gentle, affectionate, intuitive and a quick learner." - Alissa Mendelson, primary trainer of Journey Please Recycle This Newspaper Please recycle this newspaper!