Dogsafe On the Streets Community Outreach Project
Before creating Dogsafe Canine First Aid, I was a Vancouver Police constable and while working street patrol, I'd chat with hundreds of homeless and low-income people all over the city. And as a detective-constable working in a specialized mental health unit, I spoke with hundreds more. As a life-long dog lover, I especially loved talking to the people who also had dogs. The overwhelming majority of people I connected with absolutely adored their 4-legged companions and cared deeply for their well-being.
Now, as the creator of Dogsafe Canine First Aid, I wanted to reach homeless and low-income people and bring our information to them, and empower them, to assist their dogs with potential injuries or emergencies. So I chatted with whoever I crossed paths with, and asked them what type of information would be most helpful. People, like Jeremy pictured at left (who suggested I share a photo of him and his dog Mr Bush, on the website) were open and offered suggestions to what would be most helpful.
And the Dogsafe on the Streets community project was created -- without judgement, without fees.
How It Works |
Dogsafe Authorized Instructors connect with established organizations, big and small, who are already working and connecting with homeless and low-income people. We look for opportunities to reach out to those with dogs and provide short one-on-one instruction on basic canine first aid skills.
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Dogsafe Authorized Instructors may also provide Dogsafe On the Streets Canine First Aid booklets that may be given away to those with pets. The booklet is spiral-bound for durability and it's small enough to stuff in a backpack or pocket. Helpful topics covered include how to prevent canine heatstroke, how to obtain vital signs, how to respond to minor wounds such as paw cuts, and more. |
Connect With Us |
If you are a staff member or volunteer at an established organization working with homeless and low-income people and would like to chat about how we can work together, please email Dogsafe Head Office with your organizations name and city, and if we have a participating Dogsafe Authorized Instructor in your area, we'll connect you together.
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