A Little About Echo
Meet Echo - at just 5 weeks old, Echo suffered complications to an illness that required her leg to be amputated to save her life. Echo recovered fully and became as rambunctious and spirited as any young pup. Unfortunately, growing up on three legs took its toll on her developing structure, causing lameness in both rear legs. At 10 months old Echo underwent a second surgery to repair one of her back legs in order to maintain her mobility, and is now in need of low impact hydro therapy to help her make a full recovery.
Project Echo
As you may know I train in agility (you can view a video of Smidgin and I doing together by clicking echo's photo) with my dog, Smidgin, at All About Dogs. Renee DeVilliers, owner and trainer at All About Dogs has a vision for part of the facility that has yet to be realized. Echo is the inspiration for Project Echo, which will result in the building of a full-service Canine Health Center so that dogs, like Echo can receive the much-needed treatment they need to recover fully.
Phase One of Project Echo is Echo's Pool. A pool within the facility that will allow Echo to receive the hydro-therapy she needs, while also providing this for many other dogs within the GTA. The vision for Project Echo is to create an "echo-effect." Each year All About Dogs will set aside time and resources and will be giving back to dogs and owners, who need urgent therapy and rehab, who may be able to not afford such specialized care.
What Am I Doing to Help?
On March 29th All About Dogs is holding its 1st Annual AGILITY-A-THON fundraiser to jumpstart the fundraising for Echo's Pool so we can have the pool up and running in a couple months. Smidgin and I will be participating, and my goal is to raise $1000 for Echo's Pool. I want to ensure that if anything were to happen, and Smidgin needed specialized therapy and care, that Echo's Pool and Project Echo will be there for us, and any other dogs and owners who need it.
Why Should You Help?
I hope you will support my agility-a-thon participation. Smidgin and I have been training for almost a year now, and she is doing exceptionally well, however this Agility-A-Thon is a great way for us to bond and just have fun with the sport, while raising much needed funds. I know many of you, my friends and family, keep up to speed on how we are doing in our agility training, and now, here's a way for you to be much more involved. You will be part of the bricks and mortal that builds this great healing center, starting with the pool.
With the addition of a pool at the All About Dogs facility they will be able to provide much-needed water therapy for dogs, as well as provide a community space where dog owners can bring their dog for a safe swim or teach them to swim.
I hope you will support me in helping me fundraise for Echo's Pool.