Dogs on the hunt to support autism programs

An event this weekend will combine woofers and tweeters, as National Service Dogs hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs.

The hunt is a fundraiser in support of the organization’s program training Labrador and golden retrievers to assist children and families living with autism.

Chantal Merner, a UWindsor grad and a sessional instructor in psychology, says her family had organized the event for the past five years. Thousands of plastic eggs filled with doggie treats are hidden on the grounds of a local park. Each egg contains a Milk-Bone treat and a sticker, representing a chance to win prizes.

“It’s a fun morning for owners and their dogs,” Merner says. “And it helps to enrich the quality of life for a child with autism in our community.”

The Windsor event is set for Malden Park on Friday, March 29. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the hunt will start at 11 a.m. Find more information, including online registration and pledge forms, on the National Service Dogs website.

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