Dog obstacle course promotes adoption, Canada 150

Dogs bobbed and weaved their way through an obstacle course at Wiggly Field as part of an adoption event and a celebration of Canada 150.

The obstacle course was organized by Paws & Claws Animal Rescue, Pet Valu, and the Parkland Valley Sport Culture and Recreation District. Dogs  ran through hoops and jumped over boards. They also walked around the park.

Morgan Thorley and Kristen Jonassen, summer students with the Parkland Valley District, put together the obstacle course as part of ParticipACTION’s “150 Playlist.” The list is a collection of activities deemed quintessentially Canadian.

“Dog walking and dog agility [were] on the list, so we decided to partner up with Paws & Claws and Pet Valu to have the event,” Jonassen said.

“We knew a lot of people would come to see the Paws & Claws dogs,” Thorley said.

Paws & Claws brought several foster dogs to the event so they could socialize with other pets and, potentially, find a new owner.

Karen Renton, the president of Paws & Claws, said the group takes its foster animals to big events like these as often as possible. They host an adoption day once a month with Pet Valu.

“[We] try to get them out and find their forever homes,” she said.

The dog obstacle course is one of the last summer events for the Parkland Valley District. Thorley and Jonassen have put on mini putt games, scavenger hunts, capture the flag competitions, and other activities from the ParticipACTION playlist.

“I think we had a great turnout,” Thorley said.