Canada's hardest working philanthropy dogs

Authors Elisha Dacey & Abigail Turner
Compassion and generosity comes in all forms, including the fluffy kind.

Why It Matters

The bond between animals and humans shows the paws-itive connection and impact they can have on a person’s wellbeing.

Flynn, the 12 year-old college campus Australian Labradoodle providing mental health support to students. (Northern Alberta Institure of Technology)

Compassion and generosity come in all forms, including the fluffy kind. 

Countless Canadians dedicate their time and resources to making the world a better place but pets can also share in this passion.

Take Flynn, a 12-year-old college campus Australian Labradoodle. Flynn has spent a decade roaming the halls of Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), providing an emotional outlet for more than 25,000 students. 

“I had selected Flynn as a puppy with an animal behaviourist with the hopes that he would enjoy this kind of work,” said Flynn’s handler, Linda Shaw. “It turned out he really, really likes it.”

He’s been a fixture at the school, said Shaw, a councillor at the school.

“Companionship is important to human social interaction,” she said. 

“They’ve shown your blood pressure can drop,” she said. “It’s a very, very safe way to exchange a little bit of a social kind of interaction, because the animal’s non-judgmental.”

Last month, Flynn hung up his wellness vest, retiring from his role as the school’s therapy dog.

“I’ve had students tell me that they chose NAIT because they knew Flynn was here,” she said. 

“I’ve seen students crying that they don’t want him to retire. They want to be able to see him in the hallways, but he is 12, and he’s getting some vision issues.”

The students’ association has set up the Flynn Fund in honour of his retirement. It will be a dedicated mental health fund that provides therapy and emotional support to students.

Flynn’s story is just one of many heartwarming examples of tail-wagging philanthropists.

 

Regina’s Dibs provides comfort and companionship at vaccine clinics.

Dibs, Regina: Comfort at vaccine clinics

For anyone who has a fear of needles, getting a vaccine can be a scary experience. But getting a shot might be easier with Dibs in your arms.

The spaniel mix is 10 years old and has been a comfort dog since being certified in 2019. He has brought comfort not only at the vaccine clinics in Regina, but also at the local children’s hospital, Ronald McDonald House and more, says his owner Taunia Arthur.

 

At Concordia University in Montreal, Newton helps students through their anxious days.

Newton, Montreal: Concordia’s snuggly secret weapon

The university’s Campus Safety and Prevention Services team has an adorable member. Newton, a Portuguese water dog, hangs out with his owner, the team’s director, Darren Dumoulin. 

When Newton is on campus, the specially trained pupper helps promote wellness by helping students, staff, and faculty reduce stress and anxiety levels, one pat to the head at a time. 

 

Nova Scotia’s only trauma therapy dog, Darwin, can be found in Cape Breton helping those who have suffered loss and injury.

Darwin, Cape Breton: Nova Scotia’s only trauma therapy pup

It’s hard to be sad when Darwin unleashes his goofy grin. Nova Scotia’s first therapy dog trained in handling victims of trauma, the golden Labrador Retriever mix has been handing out pets and snuggles at Leeside Transition House since September.

Carleton University has a whole pack of very good doggos. Murphy is one of them who is available during office hours when he is needed.

Murphy, Ottawa: Just one of a pack of very good dogs

Murphy may be jet-black, but he is a Golden Mountain mix and is seven years old. He started with Carleton University’s Therapy Dog program when he was only a year old – proving he was a great candidate from the start. He’s unique in that he’s available to students during office hours – meaning if you have anxiety about a meeting with your instructor, he can be there to provide comfort. 

In Vancouver there’s Fergus, who comes to the rescue during stressful times.

Fergus, Vancouver: To the fire rescue

The Vancouver Fire Rescue Services has their own service dog named Fergus, who takes care of firefighters and fire victims alike.

This very good boy is the service’s Occupational Stress Intervention dog, and the firefighters say the black lab is a welcome change of pace thanks to his calm and gentle demeanor, and say he has a knack for sensing when someone is stressed out.

Axel and Zoom are two very special puppers who help children in Calgary in court and other places where they may have to explain traumatic events.

Axel and Zoom, Calgary: A haven for abused children

Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre say Axel and Zoom are a pair of perfect puppos who support children who have been abused.

The pair are especially helpful when it comes to comforting kids who have to go to court or be part of a forensic interview. It can be a scary thing to testify, and having one of them there is a big fluffy comfort. But after a hard day’s work, they like to let off a little steam.

Some other doggos you should know about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqUg1qiEdP8

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  • Abigail Turner is an award-nominated journalist who began her career in broadcast journalism. She worked primarily as a video journalist in Winnipeg before moving to Vancouver. Turner has taken on various roles in her career, including anchor and producer, while working in major outlets, including Global News and CTV News. She recently became the Special Projects Reporter at Future of Good.

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  • Elisha Dacey is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience in the field. She has worked in various newsrooms across Canada, ranging from small-town papers to major outlets like CBC Manitoba and Global News. Dacey began her journalism career in Manitoba and has held roles such as managing editor, senior producer and digital online journalist. Notably, she launched Metro Winnipeg, the city’s only free daily newspaper, which quickly became the second most-read paper in Winnipeg.

    Elisha Dacey is the Managing Editor for Future of Good.

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