Berger and Lotus gear up for guide dog walk

May 19, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
A Nobleton woman has a special buddy, affectionately referred to as “the tank.”
But he’s not a former linebacker – he’s the key to her mobility.
Two-year-old Lotus, a yellow lab, is Bev Berger’s fifth dog guide. She’s still breaking him in, after bringing him home last October.
“The tank” is a solid, competent guide and so far he has one speed – “and it’s not fast,” Berger laughed.
The brutally cold and icy winter didn’t help matters, but so far this spring, Berger is putting a lot of miles on Lotus, walking around the community.
Berger finds it “intriguing” how each dog, often the same breed, receives the same training, and yet behaves differently. Each dog has his own “hiccup” but so far Lotus is holding his own. While not initially a fan of the name, Berger said Lotus may very well be in touch with his feminine side. And, he’s become pals with Jasper, Bev’s fourth dog, who retired at 11.
Berger has done some local speaking, and recently addressed youngsters at Nobleton Public School Friday, on behalf of the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide training school.
Being a veteran recipient, Berger has become the spokesperson for the Lions Foundation and dog guide program.
The small but mighty Nobleton Lions Club actually approached Berger about getting her first dog, after seeing her out and about using her white cane. Who knew this would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship and bond.
In September of 1989 Berger’s life changed forever and for the better. Her first dog, Reb became her new set of “wheels” and after some initial adjustment, Reb became her best friend, setting the stage for the future.
“I feel like I’m the club’s mascot,” she said. “They did for me, so I can do for them.”
She added the local club members do so very much behind the scenes helping others and they never seek any credit or recognition.
The growing demand on the six different dog guide programs the Lions offer means more people will be helped, but costs continue to rise. And so it’s time to ring the bells of support for the Lions Foundation.
Costs vary, but hover around $25,000 for each dog, when you consider breeding, foster families, medical services and intensive training. Recipients stay at the Lions’ facility for one month and engage in daily training with their new companions.
Berger wants to ensure there are always funds to keep the programs going and expanding. In recent years, there has been a tremendous desire for service dogs for autistic individuals.
It’s been her crusade, a successful one at that. The witty and well spoken Berger is the perfect spokesperson for the Lions Foundation of Canada’s Dog Guide program, a role she’s helped shape over the decades. Of course, her four-legged companions often steal the show when she speaks to audiences across Canada about the Lions’ commitment, one that dates back almost 100 years.
This fall, Berger will head to Michigan to promote the program.
The need for a dog guide can happen “out of the blue.” If someone suffers from epilepsy, hearing or vision loss, it’s such a comfort to leave your house in the company of a dog guide.
“That’s a win-win for everyone,” she stressed.
Berger is gearing up for the annual Purina Walk for Dog Guides fundraiser, May 31 in Nobleton.
It’s an opportunity for the Lions to promote their main charity and for the community to get out, show off their pets and enjoy the day together.
She hopes the residents of King and surrounding areas embrace this event. Everyone is welcome to attend, as long as their dogs are social and walk well on a leash. The event begins at 9 a.m. at the gazebo in front of the Nobleton Library.
You can register, sponsor or donate to the cause, or a walker. Visit http://www.dogguides.com/purinawalk.html. You can also contact Lion Paul Olsen at 416-801-4571 or Berger herself, at baberger@sympatico.ca.