'Getting pets is his job': Wellness dog visits Edmonton pedways, transit
In the pedways – below the streets of Edmonton – you'll often find a three-year-old Labrador Retriever roaming around.
"His name is Yoghurt and getting pets is his job," Jeffrey Friend tells someone who stops to see his dog.
The pair are a volunteer wellness dog team with the Chimo Animal Assisted Wellness and Learning Society (CAAWLS).
"We have about 100 active volunteers with their dogs and we do visits to K-12 schools, seniors homes, universities, businesses, basically anywhere that likes to ask us to come out," said Friend.
About a year ago they were asked by the City of Edmonton to be part of a pilot project called 'PAWSabilities'.
"Really just a novel approach to bringing safety and connections to spaces where people haven’t, over the last few years, really felt overly safe," said Connie Marciniuk, a community safety liaison with the City of Edmonton.
Marciniuk is assigned to the Downtown Empowerment Team and thought introducing a wellness dog would be a great way to do that.
"I knew about wellness dogs and their proven track record of bringing that stress relief and that wellness and that connection to people so I thought maybe we could capitalize on the benefits that they have and see if we can shift some of the dynamic in our downtown spaces," she said.
It started with walks primarily around the Churchill Square area. In January, they moved underground to the pedways and transit areas.
Wellness dog 'Yoghurt' walks through the pedways around Churchill LRT Station on March 28. (Cam Wiebe/CTV News Edmonton)
"We didn’t know exactly what we were hoping for or looking for, we were just looking for an ability to chat and connect with people and bring a little bit of vibrancy and joy to this space," said Marciniuk.
"And it’s all about just improving people’s mental health through that human-animal bond," said Friend.
They've had about 400 interactions with people since the pilot program started. Friend said the most meaningful have been interactions with the city's vulnerable.
Wellness dog 'Yoghurt' walks through the pedways around Churchill LRT Station on March 28. (Cam Wiebe/CTV News Edmonton)
"We were doing a homeless shelter for awhile and it was just phenomenal, you could see these people that live lives where they might not get invited to interact with a dog and how important that is to me and being able to share that with them," Friend said.
He added the experience has made him feel much more comfortable walking around the area.
"It’s really kind of created a sense of humanity rather than avoid or look away. It’s really been positive in my life and I assume in theirs as well," he said.
Wellness dog 'Yoghurt' walks through the pedways around Churchill LRT Station on March 28. (Cam Wiebe/CTV News Edmonton)
"Yoghurt very willingly accepts those interactions which has really been a beautiful moment to see," said Marciniuk.
She said the pilot project has gone so well, it will not only continue, but expand.
"We’re also exploring other downtown pedway spaces or potentially looking at Southgate and Century Park in those transit spaces," said Marciniuk.
Yoghurt is on the job for the city twice a week, combining his love of walks and lots of attention.
"He loves every second of it," said Friend.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.