Good Friday’s Easter Egg hunt was one for the dogs, literally.
Celebrating their 25th year, National Service Dogs put out a spread of thousands of eggs filled with treats outside of Calaway Park on April 7 as a fundraiser.
Money raised from the annual event will be used to support training service dogs for children with autism and first responders and veterans with PTSD.
“It’s 7,500 Eggs stuffed with dog treats, and my family’s not talking to me. It’s gonna be a long Easter weekend,” laughed Alison Archambault, chair of National Service Dogs, and coordinator for the hunt.
“We are so excited to be back for the 25th anniversary of the National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, raising money for National Service dogs work to empower children impacted by autism and increase the independence of veterans and first responders impacted by PTSD.”
The event was also joined by members of the Springbank Fire Department, who donned bunny ears for the occasion.
Work supports those with sometimes unseen disabilities
Archambault described the work that National Service Dogs performs as one that extends a measure of grace and compassion to individuals who are navigating the world in a different way.
“The service dogs that we put up with these people are trained very specifically,” she said.
“We’re an ATI-accredited organization, which means that we have been accredited internationally to train the dogs to provide intervention support.”
She said that each of the dogs that are specially bred and trained are professional working dogs with very specific skills.
Photos of the National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt
Malena holds her chihuahua for the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023.A young girl gets kisses from Malena’s chihuahua during the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYOtto licks his lips while waiting for the start of the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYChildren run with dogs while collecting as many eggs as they can during the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA little dog pulls on its leash during the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA young boy hunts for eggs too in the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYAn owner feeds his dog a treat from inside an egg at the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYAn owner gives her dog pets after feeding it a treat during the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA pair of dogs sniff out some treats inside eggs during the 25th annual National Service Dogs Easter Egg hunt for dogs, at Calaway Park on Friday, April 7, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
