The first public event held by Autism Dog Services since the COVID-19 pandemic is being deemed a “howling” success.
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Dubbed the Howl-O-Ween Pawty, the event was held at the Children’s Safety Village of Brant on Sunday and attracted a large crowd.
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“This is something we want to make a signature event and it was the first time we’ve held something like this at that location and the first public event we’ve held since COVID-19,” Adele Alfano, fund development manager for Autism Dog Services Inc., said. “I think at the height of the event we had upwards of 200 people.
“It was so nice to see so many families, kids, parents, grandparents and of course their dogs at the event.”
The event included 14 vendors, a 50/50 draw, a silent auction, a petting zoo and live music. Plans call for the “pawty” to become a yearly event.
Based in Brantford, Autism Dog Services, trains guide dogs for children with autism and serves families throughout southwestern Ontario.
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“There has been a big increase in autism among children in the last couple of years,” Alfano said. “The guide dogs are important for safety and they provide emotional support.”
However, it takes about two years and costs $25,000 to train a guide dog. There are 15 families on the guide dog wait list and the wait is two years, Alfano said.
Autism Dog Services doesn’t receive any government funding. The organization relies on donations and grants, Alfano said.
“We believe in our guide dogs being social, so the guide dogs accompany our clients when they go to a move theater, a restaurant or ball game,” Alfano said.
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