Hello everyone! Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so let’s give thanks to dog guides everywhere for the outstanding work they do and the benefits they bring to those in need. Let us also give thanks to the amazing puppy fosters for all the work they do raising these outstanding puppies and preparing them for their life-changing careers!
In this issue: Halloween safety, calendar sales season, new dog bowls and Christmas cards coming to the Green Capes store and events, “Thank-you!” to Paper Pastimes in Calgary, Alberta, and more!
Have A Safe Halloween!
Halloween will soon be upon us, and it is important to remember to stay safe and be extra careful when taking your four-footed friend out for a walk or some playtime at the local park.
Many of the Halloween treats and edibles humans consume at this time are toxic, and in some cases deadly, to our four-footed friends, so as the chance of a Halloween prank approaches, it is important to take extra steps to ensure everyone remains safe.
Be sure to watch for anything that might be picked up off the ground and eaten, and only give your dog treats that you have personally made or trust have come from a safe source.
If you notice any symptoms, such as lethargy, sudden upset stomach or diarrhea, trouble walking or other odd behaviour, consult your local vet.
Stay safe and have a “Happy Howl-oween!”
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year: Calendar Sales Season!
Want to support life-changing service dogs and share adorable puppy photos with your community? Join the Calendar Sales Program and help us raise vital funds for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides!
There are two ways to get involved:
| Local Calendar Sales Program: | Pick up calendars from one of our many distribution points around the GTA. Once you have sold all the calendars you can, e-transfer the funds for the calendars you have sold and return any remaining calendars. |
| Distance Calendar Sales Program: | Sell 10+ calendars in your community, place your order by Nov 30, and we’ll ship the calendars to you for distribution. |
Ready to get started? Order at: https://csp.superpupcalendar.ca
Coming Soon To The Green Capes Store
The Green Capes Lions Club is pleased to announce the launch of a new line of collapsible dog bowls and Christmas cards, which will soon be available in the online store and at fundraising events near you.
Featuring a green bowl with the Green Capes logo printed in full colour on the bottom, these 7-inch wide by 2-inch-deep collapsible dog bowls are ideal for walks or travelling.
When collapsed, these bowls are small enough to fit in a bag or backpack. The included carabiner can be clipped to a belt or any available loop, making it both convenient and accessible when needed.
These bowls are food-safe and suitable for both food and water. Thus, you will always be able to easily feed and hydrate your dog.
In addition, our new set of holiday cards will surely be a highly sought-after item.
The new Christmas cards feature an extremely cute image from our new 2025 Dog Guide Puppy Calendar and come in five unique versions. Four of the five cards feature one of four special holiday sentiments, while the fifth card will be blank, allowing you to customize it with a sentiment of your choosing.
The cards will be sold in packs of five cards with envelopes, with one of each card variety in each pack.
These card packs are a limited time production, so be sure to get yours early!
Both items will soon be posted to our online store, so look for them at shop.greencapes.org.
Thank you, Paper Pastimes!
The Green Capes Lions Club would like to give a big thank you to Carole Crawford of Paper Pastimes in Calgary, Alberta, for a very generous donation of $500!
“I am so happy with the work you and your organization does to help people with disabilities live a better life, and just wanted to give a donation to help with such a worthy cause!”
From everyone at the Green Capes Lions Club, thank you, Carole!
Highlights from the Fort St. John, B.C. event
On September 28th and 29th, the Green Capes Lions Club, along with the Bert Bowes Middle School, participated in a joint fundraiser event in Fort St. John, B.C. The Bert Bowes Middle School was onsite to sell the 2025 Green Capes Dog Guide Puppy Calendar under the School Sales Program, to help raise funds for the school, while the Green Capes Lions Club was present to sell Green Capes merchandise and take donations.
The event was an absolutely amazing success, with over $3,300 in merchandise sales and donations raised for Green Capes, and the Bert Bowes Middle School sold a total of 58 calendars!
“We’re thrilled to announce that the Fort St. John, Bert Bowes Middle School Junior Alternate program is off to an incredible start with the sales of the 2025 Dog Guide Puppy Calendars! This is the second year that Mrs. Wright and her dedicated students have been promoting and selling these adorable calendars, and the response from the community has been even more enthusiastic than last year.
A special shoutout goes to Green Capes Member Daniel Smith and his wonderful parents, who helped us kick off this year’s campaign with a hugely successful two-day fundraising event at Canadian Tire on September 28th and 29th. Thanks to their hard work and the incredible support from the Fort St. John community, we’ve already made a strong start in our sales and are on track to surpass last year’s totals!
Partnering with The Green Capes Lions Club and working alongside GC Member Daniel and his amazing dog, Atticus, has been such a rewarding experience. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season and are so grateful for the continued support from everyone involved. Thank you, Fort St. John, for your generosity and community spirit!” —Mrs. Wright, Bert Bowes Middle School.
– Photos used with permission
Update On The New School Construction
Construction of the new Dog Guide school has reached a major milestone as crews work into the evening laying the first slabs for the ground floor. Pictured below are some night shots of the construction site, showing the first slab being moved into position, as well as some photos showing the overall size of the construction site. An amazing amount of work has been accomplished in a short period of time, and the overall size of the project is truly impressive.
Also pictured is Supervisor Turner, posing in a group photo with the construction crew.
– Photos used with permission
The 2024 fundraising season is in full force, and here are the current upcoming events:
October 4th and 5th: Fundraiser event at the Canadian Tire store in Prince George, B.C.
October 18th and 19th: Fundraiser event at the PetValu store in Dawson Creek, B.C.
November 1st and 2nd: Second fundraiser event at the Canadian Tire store in Prince George, B.C.
The Green Capes Lions Club will be on-site accepting donations and offering chocolates, dog treats, calendars and other Green Capes merchandise for sale, with all proceeds going to support the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. Come on out and show your support. There’s something for everyone.
Send Us Your Requests
We want to make our newsletter as informative as possible, and we would love to hear your comments or requests. Simply reply to this newsletter with your comments or requests, and we will update the newsletter accordingly.
Got a little newsperson buried deep down inside, just howling to be let off-leash? Got a few minutes to show off your writing talents? Join the newsletter team and help us spread the news.
Come Join The Club
If you have ever considered joining, now is a great time! We need new people, new ideas and new energy. As a full member you would be able to participate in meetings and committees, lead events and guide our future!
Did you know that there are fewer than 25 full-time members at Green Capes? Anyone is welcome to join, from anywhere in Canada! Most members are past or present puppy raisers, graduates and supporters, and we all work together to help give Canadians living with disabilities the joy, safety and independence a Dog Guide brings.
Green Capes meets monthly via Zoom and currently conducts events in southern Ontario and northeast British Columbia. If you are interested in joining, just reply to this message and our membership coordinator will get back to you asap.
Members pay an annual membership fee of $95 (pro-rated, if applicable), plus a one-time Lions International setup fee of $50.
Join the fun and help us make today’s puppies tomorrow’s superheroes!
– The GCLC Team
