https://www.caawls.org/home-impact daily 1.0 2025-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/d0253a9a-407c-4f66-9f93-dcbcd0440e82/DSC_0564.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/f4d7dea5-5309-4e72-ae2e-baeb53670467/DSC_0958.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/03acf05b-041e-4d89-8ea4-efc520751185/DSC_0807.jpg Home - Our Mission Our mission is to improve the mental wellness of people by Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) through the human animal bond. We aim to provide education to volunteers, clients and the community on AAI and canine behaviour. Learn More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745957645246-AYMRSMN6US555857F51U/1+%283%29.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745957644862-C8APK7E2B2WDDA4J40OV/2+%283%29.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745957646273-8XMNFSLE1SDEC7NTELHK/3+%283%29.png Home https://www.caawls.org/donate daily 0.75 2025-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/fd93e7ea-f7bb-4158-9383-51cd25319e5a/Gigi%2C+Finley_3.jpg Donate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/cf437dca-0a08-41fa-b24d-87c64852de8e/20240526_130213.jpg Donate - One Time Gift With a single donation you’ll be directly impacting lives and helping us continue our mission to foster wellness through the unique bond between humans and animals. Every contribution, no matter the size, is vital to our ongoing success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/17f0c499-7758-4484-b2e5-4475bbc13b99/20240609_165236.jpg Donate - Compassion Crew As part of the Compassion Crew, your monthly donation helps ensure a reliable stream of funding that allows us to continue to deliver our mission and innovate for the future. Your help allows us to build a solid foundation for long-term success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/70914960-5dcd-4491-b146-d0860de999d1/DSC_0418.jpeg Donate - Forever Friends Legacy The Forever Friends Legacy program is designed for supporters who wish to incorporate charitable giving into their long-term financial plans, ensuring that our mission continues to thrive well into the future. Choose from a variety of planned giving methods such as bequests, charitable trusts, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/85cb11f8-e733-4a70-9879-0b0a626b5f6d/20240609_155632.jpg Donate - Gifts In Kind Gifts in kind allow us to stretch our resources further by reducing our operating costs and reinvesting funds into expanding our programs. We welcome non-monetary donations such as new or gently new items that can make a tangible difference. Please view our wish list to see what items we can accept and what we are in need of most. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/bf256252-644e-40f6-89f4-2f1c13278df6/Millie+5.jpg Donate - Donate in tribute Make a lasting impact by donating in tribute to someone special. A tribute gift is a meaningful way to honour a loved one, celebrate a milestone, or remember a pet or person who made a difference in your life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/a6b17d85-c745-4787-91eb-c4dedcb36af6/20250208_140944.jpg Donate - Paws In Action By sponsoring a program you have the opportunity to be part of something truly transformative by making these life-changing experiences accessible to more people in our community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/783170d2-b9f5-4eaf-a09b-1276b95dd282/20250227_102140.jpg Donate - Corporate Champions Join us as corporate partners where your donation will help to fund training, community visits, and more. You can support through direct donations, sponsorships, matching gift programs, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/32b96d0f-2194-4287-9729-bf078212b8e1/Kiara%2C+Maui%2C+Kovu_1.jpg Donate - CaAWLS Community Fund Investing in the future wellness of our community is important. This fund is dedicated to generating sustainable financial support that secures the long-term success of our programs and supports organizations who may not have the financial capacity to have an animal wellness program. Invest in a legacy of service and resilience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/9ba54a64-2334-4c84-9d1f-115b155896c1/20240908_130331%280%29.jpg Donate - Host A Fundraiser CAAWLS believes in creativity and community. Through the creative efforts of individuals, community groups, and local businesses, our supporters can help us expand our reach by hosting their own fundraising events. Interested in hosting your own fundraiser? Please review our third-party fundraising guidelines below. https://www.caawls.org/events daily 0.75 2025-07-22 https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-omenbrewing monthly 0.5 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/5318ef1f-c41b-4390-a3fb-e391d7d2d1d3/Omen+Brewing+Landscape.png Events - Pups on the Patio - OMEN Brewing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-july6 monthly 0.5 2025-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/0e6d8024-a611-4088-95fd-9bcd8ed0260e/2.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-july5 monthly 0.5 2025-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1751306509053-VXKEV7JUW5QP5TFOQPO2/9+%282%29.png Events - Pups on the Patio - The Pint on Whyte https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1751306500640-QRLXNF9E2OOEYOXWBGGK/11.png Events - Pups on the Patio - The Pint on Whyte https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-june22 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/24072544-0016-4abd-9f49-61d2d12b37ec/2025Pups+on+the+Patio+Graphics+Landscape.png Events - Pups on the Patio - Alley Kat Brewing Co. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-june21 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/d4c1173b-dda0-4213-97f9-714cfcd207a0/1.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-aug16 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/e61d7e27-bba1-45da-87aa-52e7c5aa53dd/5.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-aug30 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/e42723f5-fd52-45eb-a2a8-b7b650d9b701/6.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-july26 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/cbb45ab2-318a-48c7-8897-452caa924cad/4.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-july19 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/d5e22502-9ef4-454f-8074-fc57f34de4dd/3.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-june28 monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/7b9eddda-a607-443d-8f5a-e41db25cb72f/2.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/events/pupsonthepatio-june14 monthly 0.5 2025-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/bef2efd3-ff32-4806-94b6-8fee29e04c63/1.png Events - Pups on the Patio - 1st RND - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/contact daily 0.75 2025-06-25 https://www.caawls.org/get-certified daily 0.75 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/b4987640-1260-46fd-84ff-814b9807e71a/DSC_0840.jpg Get Certified https://www.caawls.org/volunteer-with-us daily 0.75 2025-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/72d73142-25d9-4323-8a8e-289562b08fe8/20250208_161303.jpg Volunteer With Us - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/3a121ece-c76e-436b-a554-5d66679d84ba/20240908_130331.jpg Volunteer With Us - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/735c3feb-a937-40e6-8a92-14ec43624558/20250208_144008%280%29.jpg Volunteer With Us - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/program-directory daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/ebf0671c-c261-4c6a-b7ca-b5e204c65463/DSC_0937.jpg Program Directory - Grade School Grade School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/240c591d-1b47-4fce-90c7-e6875b237d24/DSC_0906.jpg Program Directory - Social Service Groups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/66c8f456-e2c2-402a-9a94-295dad41e78a/DSC_1054.jpg Program Directory - Post Secondary Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/73621337-4efe-4f1f-ae9f-5708411fb736/DSC_0831.jpg Program Directory - Workplace Wellness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/59d1598f-47f1-4c06-8a51-88ed3c6c8733/Seniors+home.jpg Program Directory - Seniors Housing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/fb6b2d9a-8105-492e-917b-5dc0f771f501/DSC_0515.jpg Program Directory - Book a Program! https://www.caawls.org/grade-school daily 0.75 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744924518535-P0G4XQTNSWGD6GSJQRJ6/DSC_0921.JPG Grade School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744924495265-JEVXL748C2BO2NCV18J5/Screenshot+2025-04-17+151135.png Grade School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744924495394-RSHZ7XI9CG47Z914EY6Q/Screenshot+2025-04-17+151206.png Grade School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/66e7dba8-c46a-4f08-93a6-2151ba949eef/DSC_0559.jpeg Grade School - Make it stand out Lacie is an 11 year old French Bulldog who became a member of CAAWLS and started going with her mom, Orysia to school to spend time with the elementary students. Meet Lacie and Orysia “My name is Orysia and I first started volunteering with CAWWLS 4 years ago. I know how important animals are and their calming effect on people. I was a principal at an elementary school at the time that I started volunteering and then moved to a junior high as principal. I had heard from colleagues how wonderful the CAAWLS program was and how beneficial it was to have a weekly CAAWLS visit. I decided to bring in one of my personal dogs to be certified as I knew she'd be a great fit for the program and for my students. I love volunteering with CAAWLS and exposing students to the program. In my 4 years with CAAWLS, students, staff, families, and visitors have experienced the benefits of weekly CAAWLS visits from Lacie. Lacie and I have had the opportunity to listen to students practice their reading, provide comfort during exams or anxious times for students and for staff. We have had the opportunity to bring people together through a love for animals. We are very thankful to be a part of the CAAWLS team.” Keep an eye out for Lacie and Orysia during the school year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/672dcc84-d6af-4d0f-918e-8bd076fe5c9d/DSC_0464.jpeg Grade School - Make it stand out Dallas is a 7 year old Australian Shepherd. He began volunteering in February of 2019 after seeing CAAWLS at the Edmonton Pet EXPO! Dallas regularly volunteers with his dad, Kyle at his school. Meet Dallas and Kyle My name is Kyle and I volunteer with my 7 year old Australian Shepherd, Dallas. I saw a CAAWLS booth at the Pet Expo and immediately thought Dallas would be a great fit for the program. We love volunteering because of the positive reactions we get every time we go to a placement and meet new people. Dallas loves all the extra attention he gets and volunteering is great way to spend time with your dog outside of the regular day to day activities we all do with our dogs. When Dallas is not volunteering, his favourite hobbies include visiting dog parks, swimming in the North Saskatchewan River, and spending time on outdoor patios. Make sure to join us during patio season at our Pups on the Patio events, which take place at various locations in Edmonton and surrounding areas! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/9aece234-63d4-4706-a1a7-34244b70ea7c/Resized_20240521_145704.jpg Grade School - Are you a teacher with a dog? We certified teachers and their dogs to make it easier to fulfil school programs. Apply to get your dog certified today! https://www.caawls.org/post-secondary daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/49fbc4c1-03d1-416a-9a19-fe2a121c35f0/DSC_1060.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744921281573-SGSWNICALNTEO3DKBQ4E/DSC_1095.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744921262898-5T8ZX7BT5U0B0LSOMG6Q/DSC_1046.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744921259533-A2A21PHNRS4W9NL6JB7R/DSC_1075.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744921274828-F9HY8GYA2E7FHP7I3JJM/DSC_1079.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744921287282-PDL67I1KUNCHNJQCKATC/DSC_1109.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/b2bc9925-ba31-446b-9cb2-de65802457b4/FOLLOW+US%21.jpg Post Secondary - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/6dfbbc3d-6e00-419b-b3c2-922c222f545c/DSC_0671.jpeg Post Secondary Penny is a University of Alberta (UofA) ambassador. You can see her regularly walking around the transit stations and the Hub entrance with her mom Kerri! Meet Penny and Kerri “I’m Kerri, a Peace Officer with the University of Alberta, and I’m all about building connections and supporting mental health, especially with the help of my wellness dog, Penny. With the support of CAAWLS, I created the wellness animal program within my agency to bridge the gap between first responders and the community while also providing much-needed mental health support. The best part? Seeing Penny work her magic. Whether she’s helping a student de-stress or comforting a frontline member after a tough shift, she has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Watching those little moments of connection happen is what makes it all so rewarding! Penny is an almost 3 year old Golden and Labrador Retriever cross with a big heart and an even bigger appetite for treats. She joined the CAAWLS and University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS) teams in 2024, bringing comfort and care to the university community and first responders.” Make sure you stop by to give Penny some pets when you see her on campus! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/7652ca8c-d494-46c7-af53-59c001914984/Huey_1.jpeg Post Secondary - Make it stand out Huey is one of the many CAAWLS wellness dogs that you can see at NorQuest College. Huey joins his mom, Nola at work to visit with students. Meet Huey and Nola “My name is Nola. After losing my last dog, I knew I wanted to continue bringing joy to my life through animals. I had been volunteering with various rescues since 2019, and fostering dogs was one of the most rewarding roles I took on. I’ve always had a soft spot for dogs, and I knew that my next dog would be one that I could work with on wellness initiatives, given how much they’ve brought me over the years. I teach psychology at NorQuest College, and when I heard that CAAWLS was partnering with the school, I thought, how great would it be to bring my dog to campus to meet the students. Huey, was my 10th foster pup and I knew from the start he would be a perfect fit for wellness work. He was always such a calm and gentle puppy, I knew he'd thrive in this setting, and he has! In addition to volunteering with CAAWLS, we've continued fostering, welcoming 7 other dogs into our home. The best part of volunteering with CAAWLS is seeing Huey connect with the students. Whether it’s one student who really bonds with him or the calm he brings them on a tough day, it’s a simple joy that never gets old. There's something special about sharing this experience with him, and the smiles on the students’ faces is beyond rewarding. Huey is a 2.5 year old Bernedoodle that was rescued by AARCS at 3.5 months old. When he’s not volunteering you can find Huey napping, walking, playing with his dog friends, or finding the best stick on the block.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744922121873-ZDSOZKA57KENZ9I0LL6L/PXL_20240509_195950112.jpg Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744922120692-6V6VANIQKZ74YOLH3P1U/IMG_5773.jpg Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744922120657-5WJUIABRG85E5Z2T6F80/IMG_5776.jpg Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744924656286-FZM0MCI1AUVYIPF7TJFB/Screenshot+2025-04-17+150044.png Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744924801058-8K3KZHLFF80UXNN3L31J/DSC_1206.JPG Post Secondary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1744924777932-05PTDIKYR1MVLG4RMTTU/DSC_1199.JPG Post Secondary https://www.caawls.org/our-mission daily 0.75 2025-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/50a00d4f-02ff-42da-85a8-83f7dccec10e/DSC_0902.jpg Our Mission https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/448701f5-1179-4650-8e3a-cba6a56d3044/Core+values.jpg Our Mission https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/657d6de1-5aec-4eb6-a048-752bbf009a0a/Chimo.jpg Our Mission - Chimo Chimo was Dennis Anderson's Blue Heeler/Labrador cross. Dennis had personally experienced the psychological benefits of human-animal interactions, and he aspired to obtain evidence that animals are beneficial in the treatment of persons with mental health concerns. The name “Chimo” comes from the Inuit toast for “good cheer”, which is what CAAWLS hopes to bring to all of our clients. https://www.caawls.org/meet-our-board daily 0.75 2025-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/85251e2e-04df-4798-b63c-716b73eecf67/20201221_135627.jpg Meet Our Board - PResident Donna Sung Aenean eu justo sed elit dignissim aliquam. Donec eu est non lacus lacinia semper. Suspendisse nec congue purus. Aenean eu justo sed elit dignissim aliquam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/96389ce8-3e1d-4419-b419-f7fddd6cee3d/unnamed+%282%29.jpg Meet Our Board Gloria Bastien Nulla lectus ante, consequat et ex eget, feugiat tincidunt metus. Nulla lectus ante, consequat et ex eget, feugiat tincidunt metus. Nullam sit amet nisi condimentum erat iaculis auctor. Integer tempus, elit in laoreet posuere, lectus neque blandit dui, et placerat urna diam mattis orci. In sit amet felis malesuada, feugiat purus eget, varius mi. Phasellus sodales massa malesuada tellus fringilla, nec bibendum tellus blandit. Aliquam bibendum, turpis eu mattis iaculis, ex lorem mollis sem, ut sollicitudin risus orci quis tellus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/7424ed91-782c-4dd3-a0da-e63358af4209/alnur.jpg Meet Our Board Jose Clark Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean eu justo sed elit dignissim aliquam. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/c0905c76-f7c2-4c5a-a8e0-3312553f19d2/Rugar_5.jpeg Meet Our Board John Alexander Mauris id fermentum nulla. Vivamus a ante congue, porta nunc nec, hendrerit turpis. Donec eget risus diam. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1b672b5c-9c03-4f1c-888f-0b5ba9baf934/-8528097979606007725.jpg Meet Our Board Jeremy Rogers Suspendisse nec congue purus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed a ligula quis sapien lacinia egestas. Donec ac fringilla turpis. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper. Maecenas non leo laoreet, condimentum lorem nec, vulputate massa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/a290483c-6427-4145-a6ac-5d5cc851484b/IMG_5766.jpg Meet Our Board - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/f34953ac-6656-43b9-8e06-fd5f3b6a9d6b/DSC_0699.jpg Meet Our Board - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/president daily 0.75 2025-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/4b6fc68e-24fa-4006-acb1-1179b46a8295/20201221_135627.jpg President - Alexander Smoliak Alexander is a new dog owner, one of the many people who have adopted a new pet in the past year. He and his wife adopted a female Chihuahua named Bela, and almost immediately noted the positive change in their wellness and with those they interact with in the community. Alexander has worked in the health and addictions field for close to thirty years, and believes the profound impact that pets have on wellbeing requires ongoing community support, continued advocacy, education and research, particularly at this time of social anxiety and personal stress. Chimo Animal Assisted Wellness and Learning Society provides the perfect volunteer opportunity to support community wellness through human-animal interaction in Edmonton and surrounding area. Contact: alexander@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/vice-president daily 0.75 2025-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/60267352-bc54-4631-9f0c-b730c998648f/unnamed+%282%29.jpg Vice President - Ann Campbell Ann Campbell has been with the CAAWLS for over ten years. Ann has a passion for education and canine welfare. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Diploma in Education and a Masters in Human Canine Life Sciences. Ann is passionate about furthering our understanding of the human animal bond and educating others about the potential of our canine partners. Ann spent over 25 years as a teacher, raised Service Dogs for Dogs with Wings and BC Alberta Guide dogs and is the founder of the current CAAWLS. Currently Ann’s focus is on research and best practices in the field of animal assisted wellness. She shares her with her partner , 2 lovely retrievers and a service dog in training. Contact: ann@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/treasurer daily 0.75 2025-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/d5a85eb7-ff33-4cf8-a2e4-eed8fcb09412/alnur.jpg Treasurer - Al-Nur Pradhan Although not a dog owner, Al-Nur has a love for all sorts of dogs. His family has gone through a few medical related challenges and upon completion of treatment, a dog would bring happiness and love for the family affected. Al-Nur is a CPA, CMA and currently works for Blueprint Condominium management and brings tremendous volunteer board experience to CAAWLS. Further to working with Condominium boards that are not-for-profit, Al-Nur also volunteers with CPA Alberta as well as various roles in the Ismaili Community. Contact: treasurer@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/secretary daily 0.75 2025-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/f8df3533-a507-4182-8134-196674cfddf6/Rugar_5.jpg Secretary - Ashley Carroll Meet Ashley and Ruger, a dynamic duo bringing pawsitive energy to the lives of youth through their volunteer work with Chimo Animal Assisted Wellness and Learning Society. Since 2022, they've been dedicated volunteers at a local youth hub and connected with students at the school where Ashley teaches offering a unique blend of comfort, connection, and fun. Ashley, with her passion for education and wellness, and Ruger, her friendly and affectionate wellness dog, have created a lasting impact on students and community members alike. Ruger, a true ambassador for all things joy, thrives in his role as a wellness dog, offering unconditional love and companionship to those in need. Whether it's a playful game of keep away, enjoying his favorite snacks, or snuggling up for a cozy moment, Ruger’s presence brings a sense of calm and happiness wherever he goes. When he’s not spreading joy with his favorite humans, Ruger can be found indulging in his guilty pleasure—puppuccinos and tasty treats. His love for people knows no bounds, and his playful, gentle nature makes him an ideal companion for Ashley as they work to support mental health and wellness in the community. Contact: ashley@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/privacy-officer daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/7037ce0b-3017-4bf1-b57e-4c6ecdc7ba5e/-8528097979606007725.jpg Privacy Officer - Heather Hunt Since 2022, Heather has been a dedicated board member, bringing over 25 years of expertise in animal health and welfare. Her career has been devoted to promoting and improving animal welfare through her prior work at various veterinary hospitals, the local humane society and her current role with the Alberta SPCA. She also spent several years working with an Assistance Dog International (ADI) accredited organization, leading the Health & Breeding program. During this time, she collaborated with various international ADI organizations in Canada, USA, Europe and Australia, gaining valuable insights into assistance dog programs and the profound human-animal bond. Heather’s dedication to animal advocacy extends to her volunteer work, where she has supported animal rescue efforts and participated in spay and neuter clinics both locally and internationally. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two adult children, and her diverse group of pets: three dogs, a cat and an African Grey Parrot. Heather and her dog Luna, a 4yr old Landseer Newfoundland dog, are certified as a CAAWLS team. Contact: privacy@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/marketing-director daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/97908765-6db7-47b8-bf05-2a5e4262bfcc/IMG_5766.jpg Marketing Director - Kylie Stephen Bio coming soon! Contact: kylie@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/legal-chair daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/73147f64-c76f-4f26-9830-50b4106d27b0/DSC_0699.jpg Legal Chair - Anna Kuranicheva Bio coming soon! Contact: anna@caawls.org https://www.caawls.org/latest-news daily 0.75 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/58caeb6f-7b11-4b6d-a45f-a077eba7af38/News+Article+Banner+%281%29.png Latest News https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/349ace84-bee7-422a-82c2-d164beeb8013/Website+Banners+%281%29.png Latest News https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/5f2b7ce1-d7ea-4c12-95fb-69eaeb68c898/News+Segment+Banner+%281%29.png Latest News https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/58caeb6f-7b11-4b6d-a45f-a077eba7af38/News+Article+Banner+%281%29.png Latest News - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/b42912e7-9723-4a0f-9318-37705b1cf1d3/Radio+Clip+Baner+%281%29.png Latest News - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/paws-in-action daily 0.75 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/6ee9182d-a481-4b01-b2e6-cdb1ca96aec7/Blog+Banner+for+Website+Content+%281600+x+850+px%29%281%29.png Paws In Action https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745960966741-DBD2TBJCXTNG97GD3VAH/20250208_140944.jpg Paws In Action https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745960441287-WQD2DLI4PGS6L0NDHEOF/20240609_155150.jpg Paws In Action https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745960444571-GIG8MB573BFW7459E9U5/20250208_144008%280%29.jpg Paws In Action https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745960451588-0YSPAU7V44YVM7ICMJGY/20250309_111907.jpg Paws In Action https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745960446974-Q13OI0DEI134UU6SXW1Y/IMG_5773.jpg Paws In Action https://www.caawls.org/corporate-champions daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/bf4dc0d2-7630-44d7-b6b6-9d7da7e4ca4e/Blog+Banner+for+Website+Content+%281%29.png Corporate Champions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745961424586-6FX8O4RS6Z6C3LPBUDRD/20240526_131930.jpg Corporate Champions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745961423883-Z2BGA2MNYAXO6HU0BQ0K/20240526_132911.jpg Corporate Champions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1745961444249-V59BUZ5JGX6LF915IK8E/20250227_102140.jpg Corporate Champions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/e3e088c6-d261-4377-9495-479a09eec6da/OBD_Logo_WebsiteLogo_Jun20.png Corporate Champions - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/48fedd8d-6bbd-4d1d-9d42-a5dd18fb7a57/sleeman_wildrose_logos.jpg Corporate Champions - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/meet-our-team daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/bd63398b-c37b-412e-8661-e51a4c1bf642/Jeff.jpg Meet Our Team - Jeffrey Friend Director of Operations Jeffrey has worked in animal related non-profits for his entire professional career and has a passion for animal welfare and canine behaviour. He graduated with a MSc. in Animal Science specializing in canine behaviour and welfare from the University of Alberta. Jeffrey has two dogs, Yoghurt a yellow lab and Tiberius a Siberian Husky, both are certified as wellness dogs with CAAWLS. Yoghurt loves visiting schools with young kids and Tiberius enjoys visits with people experiencing homelessness. Contact: coordinator@caawls.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/93e13604-8d6b-4ab5-b0db-4b3a35e31dd9/20240330_163008.jpg Meet Our Team - Rae Desmarais Fund Development and Events Coordinator Much of Rae’s professional career has been focused in the non-profit sector. With a passion for animals, Rae has had the privilege of supporting a number of animal-focused organizations in Edmonton. Her educational background has been centered around non-profit management and has allow her to achieve her CVA designation as a volunteer management professional. Outside of work, Rae enjoys spending time with her cats and birds. She also likes to offer her time as a foster parent for cats and kittens in need. Contact: donate@caawls.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/2185e996-f864-4af9-9604-97366ae4b0a3/20240526_134124.jpg Meet Our Team - Yoghurt Yoghurt has been a CAAWLS Celebrity since 2022. You will often see him walking the pedways in downtown Edmonton, and at many CAAWLS events which he attends with his dad Jeff. He loves visiting kindergarten the most and he is always excited when he walks into a school. His favourite activities are stealing his brother Tiberius’ food and getting bum scratches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/ef03ad2c-f730-41cc-9caa-599143af8e41/DSC_0720.jpg Meet Our Team - Tiberius Tiberius joined CAAWLS in 2023, following in his brother, Yoghurt’s, footsteps. CAAWLS since 2023. He loves getting to go to post secondary institutions where he can be a little more energetic. His favourite activities are sneaking kisses when people aren’t looking and giving people Husky sass for not paying attention to him. https://www.caawls.org/seniors-housing daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/5e3ce959-7b46-4b8b-9b4a-39e8fc2394d8/seniors2+%281%29.jpg Seniors Housing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/73998dce-06b7-4567-9a5e-303980a16f9a/DSC_0552.jpeg Seniors Housing - Make it stand out Piper is a 5 year old Whoodle (Wheaten Terrier/Poodle cross). She has been with CAAWLS for 2.5 years. She absolutely loves doing her sessions and cries in excitement when she realizes she has arrived at a location she is familiar with. Piper visits groups of all ages with her mom Sharon. Meet Piper and Sharon “I am Sharon, a retired nurse and started volunteering with CAAWLS as soon as I could get Piper certified after COVID. I got involved when I noticed that Piper had such a strong need to interact with humans of all ages. I knew she was destined for this volunteer role when she approached a young nonverbal woman in a wheelchair, put her head in the girl’s lap and let the girl pet her. I am passionate about using dogs to help relieve stress and decrease anxiety. What I love most about volunteering is to see how excited Piper is when she gets to a location she knows. Her excitement is proof that she loves what she is doing.” Keep your eye out for Piper at our next event, and make sure you give her lots of pets! https://www.caawls.org/social-service-groups daily 0.75 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/5a198136-83d1-4d4b-ab24-b65df45a8f74/DSC_0802.jpg Social Service Groups - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/0feddee0-1431-4057-b5f8-203f8608e0dd/Vinny_7.jpeg Social Service Groups - Make it stand out Vincent (Vinny for short) volunteers with his dad, Darren, who describes him as very calm and patient, especially when he is visiting people living with disabilities. This might be because he can relate. Vinny is a deaf dog, but this doesn’t stop him from being an amazing wellness dog. In fact, Vinny is a perfect fit for many programs that work with people living with disabilities! Meet Vinny and Darren “My name is Darren. I retired in late 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and obviously was very limited in what I could do. I have always loved dogs so in February of 2021 I got Vincent - a 1 year old black English Lab. Vinny and I worked hard together taking various obedience and training classes. Unfortunately Vinny lost his hearing as a result of a medication interaction so that presented me with a whole new set of challenges - teaching Vinny to respond to only hand commands. I have volunteered for most of my adult life and I began looking for opportunities to volunteer with Vinny. Some organizations were not willing to take on a dog with this type of disability. A neighbour friend told me about a group she was involved with called CAAWLS. I looked into the group and contacted the coordinator and discussed my concerns. We went through the application and testing process and in February of 2023 Vinny and I attended our first CAAWLS event - I was instantly hooked. Seeing how the group interacted with the dogs was incredible. Vinny and I soon began doing weekly visits to a K-9 school that has a large number of classes of children with special needs. It quickly became apparent that Vinny's hearing loss did not affect his abilities at all. In fact it was quickly evident that this was something the children could relate to and what Vinny was meant to do. Vinny and I still attend that school - in fact Vinny even has his own school ID card. We now also regularly visit a high school with 2 classes of teenage special needs students. The students walk Vinny around the halls of the school. The great thing with this is that Vinny then gets to also visit with all the other students and this creates an opportunity for those students to interact with the special needs students. If you are ever looking for an opportunity of this type I highly recommend checking out CAAWLS. “ Keep an eye out for these two during special CAAWLS programs, and don’t hesitate to ask Darren how to communicate with Vinny using sign language! https://www.caawls.org/workplace-wellness daily 0.75 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/add518bf-1cb8-45f5-97ed-ad75e563112b/20250508_120739.jpg Workplace Wellness - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/884e544f-738a-4a1c-a91e-b292bbd38379/Moose_1.jpeg Workplace Wellness - Make it stand out Moose is a 2 year old Boxer-Saint Bernard cross (heavy on the Saint) who joins his mom Skippy at work! Skippy and Moose enjoy their time visiting students at their school, and participating in many other CAAWLS events! Meet Moose and Skippy “I am the proud mum of 2 human sons and 4 canine sons. I am fortunate to live in the country so my husband and I always have a steady 4-pack of dogs. I am a MASTER quill remover and I love all water sports and all breweries. Moose came to our family through our vet. He was surrendered as a two month old pup because he became ill with parvovirus. Our vet saved him and contacted his soon to be forever family, to see if they had room for a puppy. Our answer was “of course!” I had the good fortune to become involved with CAAWLS when my school district adopted a policy of allowing dogs at school if they had been vetted first. It has been an excellent experience both at school and at the various CAAWLS events. I love the feeling of bringing a smile to people's faces and to legitimately get to talk about my dogs because I was asked. It has also developed a different bond between my volunteer dog, Moose and myself. He is my honey-bunny, moon-pie.” Keep an eye out for Moose at our summer fundraiser events, Pups on the Patio! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/b2bc9925-ba31-446b-9cb2-de65802457b4/FOLLOW+US%21.jpg Workplace Wellness - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.caawls.org/forever-friends-legacy daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/27e635b1-b360-4ac2-8178-fd9656907481/Blog+Banner+for+Website+Content+2.png Forever Friends Legacy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747770490061-2PSGLWHMVXR9KIQEIIOV/IMG_8049.jpeg Forever Friends Legacy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747770626558-YLBR7LT88J12Y7DJI8XT/Gigi+Puppy+Photo.jpg Forever Friends Legacy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747770685076-YJCZ3PPNM3JOBIRYGSOA/20240629_150738.jpg Forever Friends Legacy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747770721114-RLPKV8YTHCLII6L8XD8R/20250309_103858.jpg Forever Friends Legacy https://www.caawls.org/gifts-in-kind daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/de82061f-4bd1-4a33-9f19-8bd1dba615ce/Blog+Banner+for+Website+Content+3.png Gifts In Kind https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771286844-6ABUGEKT01MQTLBXZPX5/DSC_0754.JPG Gifts In Kind https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771374053-MFOQTI860M266BD58Z3T/20240330_144311.jpg Gifts In Kind https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771372387-KPLDI9S53R9AMCWCS758/20240810_132442.jpg Gifts In Kind https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771386642-W9QSW9JWHT7Q8CWR61U3/20240929_113823.jpg Gifts In Kind https://www.caawls.org/third-party-fundraising daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/d8670f20-6601-4725-8315-9438ce4e1f3a/Blog+Banner+for+Website+Content+4.png Third Party Fundraising https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771600595-2GXE7ZDEF854GRNWP73Z/20250509_120338.jpg Third Party Fundraising https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771765446-K7FE6O1Z4XFAWS4YB29J/IMG_8047.jpg Third Party Fundraising https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771718628-8DKRRNN8L9RTC1SHVWF3/20250308_100034.jpg Third Party Fundraising https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1747771718034-UNAC6A2ALPA3CBFCKHJA/20250309_131846.jpg Third Party Fundraising https://www.caawls.org/store daily 0.75 2025-10-22 https://www.caawls.org/store/2026-desk-calendar-with-stickers monthly 0.5 2026-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/4bfbc8a6-8e23-40a9-9741-83fd5a359718/20251110_134409.jpg Store - 2026 Desk Calendar - With Stickers - 20251110_134409.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/b9c8434b-7a71-40e4-b4a9-7449d1b2b32d/20251110_134501.jpg Store - 2026 Desk Calendar - With Stickers - 20251110_134501.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/2db23046-c7e2-4767-bd28-90f5cfdde9f0/20251110_134426.jpg Store - 2026 Desk Calendar - With Stickers - 20251110_134426.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67f7f94b14a24c29de64f253/1b3a3e3b-cc12-43e7-9a8c-036bacb82c31/Stickers.png Store - 2026 Desk Calendar - With Stickers - Stickers.png