Campaign fundraising to build new state-of-the-art dog guide training school

Brianne Foley gets details on the Lions Foundation of Canada's efforts to build a state-of-the-art training facility for dog guides.

The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is collecting funds to help build a state-of-the-art dog guide training school.

Funds collected through The Difference Campaign will help build an 89,000 square-foot training school in Oakville, Ont.

The new facility will allow members to train and provide more dog guides to people across the country at no cost.

The foundation gave Courtnee Peddle’s son, Hunter Estabrook, a dog guide named Yazar about eight years ago. She says having Yazar has been life changing for Hunter and her family.

“For Hunter, it’s a huge safety factor for what Yazar’s provided for us, especially for a non-verbal child,” said Peddle, during an interview on CTV Atlantic Morning Live on Wednesday.

“He breaks open a lot of barriers and helps keep him safe when he wants to Houdini on me and be a track star.”

Peddle says the new training school will be fully accessible, eliminating barriers for people with disabilities, while offering a welcoming space for all.

The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which relies on donations, says it costs about $35,000 to train and place each dog guide with a family.

Peddle says it was a three-year process to receive Hunter’s guide dog due to high applicant rates.

“It’s ironic how well they match these dogs to their people, to their families, to make sure that dog’s a great fit for the families at the end of the day,” said Peddle.

Yazar goes to school with Hunter each day, which is where he does most of his work.

“He is typically tethered to Hunter, so he acts as a big anchor to him. Hunter is a runner and a flight risk … so Yazar does that initially, but he’s also helped slow down Hunter a lot,” she said.

According to its website, The Difference Campaign has already raised $41.5 million of its $50 million goal.