Dog News

A Canadian with an Amazing Can-Do Attitude

by ADMIN

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Michel Garant and his assistance dog, Mollo, take a break from their fundraising trek across Canada. (MICHEL FORMAN/Truro Bureau)

Michel Garant, a 55-year-old paraplegic from Levis, Quebec, is on a mission to raise money for Mira, a Canadian organization that provides service dogs to physically or mentally challenged people. Following in an RV is Mollo, his own service dog, his wife, and other volunteers. Mollo has given Garant the freedom to live a more normal life by being there to help with Garant’s mobility and retrieve items he needs.

Garant hopes to raise $150,000 to buy five service dogs for other people who are in need like he was after a snowboarding accident eight years ago. His plan is to cycle across Canada, 7,300 kilometers in less than 90 days, to raise the money.

The cost to train a dog is about $30,000 and Mira provides the dogs for free to qualified candidates. It takes about a month for a candidate, who is initially referred by a physician, to find out if they would be a good fit for a service dog.

Jean Brousseau, Mira board member, says, “It’s superb. What is really good about this is Michel (achieving) his dream and (showing) people who are either mentally or physically challenged that they can fulfill their dream and make it a reality when you really want it.”

Source: The ChronicleHerald