Events
K9 Cops for Kids campaign
The Canadian Police Canine Association is pleased to sponsor the:
K9 Cops for kids campaign:
November 2019
The K9 cops for kids program in Saskatchewan will be spreading some Christmas cheer again this year. K9 units from Provincial, Federal and Municipal agencies will be visiting children’s hospitals throughout the province with their K9 partners and some special gifts. This year we are excited to unveil the first ever K9 cops for kids coloring book. Thanks to the CPCA for donating funds to make this happen and also some local help as well. Thanks to Paws Here https://www.facebook.com/pawshereservices/ https://www.instagram.com/pawshereprincealbert/ in Prince Albert for their help with the book and donating this year’s crayons. Thanks to the artist Natasha Matthews https://facebook.com/censorsheepillustrations/ in Saskatoon for her incredible artwork. Merry Christmas Everyone.
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August 2015
Hi Jonathan,
Just wanted to drop you a line and thank you and the CPCA for all your info to get involved with the kids in one way or another. I will be visiting the Ronald MacDonald house on an ongoing basis throughout the year now. This was a portion of a blog placed on our Alberta Corrections website.
Thanks again,
Jen
Making friends with some of the kids who call the Ronald McDonald House their home away from home.
But this is one duo that doesn’t seem to be running out of steam any time soon. For the past year and a half, Jen and Jersey have regularly appeared at Corrections, community and elementary school events with their colleagues, however, Jersey recently picked up a side job – volunteering.
“I wanted to seek out different areas to volunteer that I felt would make a difference,” explains Jen. So far, they have attended Chartwell Eau Claire Retirement Residence and the Red Deer Hospital Pediatric Unit, and today, the pair were at the Calgary region Ronald McDonald House.
Jersey’s new fan at the Ronald McDonald House.
“After I visited the sick kids at Red Deer hospital who couldn’t go home for the holidays, I wanted to have a broader impact and share Jersey’s soft and goofy side with the kids and parents who need a boost.”
Although she’s all work when she’s on the job, Jersey loves people – her big slobbery kisses are a dead-giveaway. And what do the kids think when they meet her? Well, the smiles on these faces speak volumes, don’t you think?
K9 Cops for Kids Campaign
Over the past Christmas holidays, K9 cops in Saskatchewan attended hospitals to visit sick
kid's that were stuck spending time in hospital instead of home where they wanted to be.
These K9 Cops visited kids and left behind a stuffed "Police Dog"
The program was the idea of RCMP Cpl. Sean Cleary & PSD Tye and has since caught on and
is being supported by the entire membership of the Canadian Police Canine Association.
This program was started in Saskatchewan this past year and it is hoped to expand
to other provinces in 2013.
If you would like further information on this program you can contact:
CPCA Director: John Bergen at [email protected]
The following stories appeared in the media after our initial roll out of the "K9 Cops for kids" Campaign.
Puppy brings Christmas cheer to sick children in Saskatchewan
National Breaking NewsThe Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
K9 Kids: Puppy brings Christmas cheer to sick children in Saskatchewan
By: Jennifer Graham, The Canadian Press
18/12/2012 2:16
Logan Tonge holds Elf the German shepherd puppy at a rehabilitation centre in Regina, Tuesday, Dec.18, 2012. The 10-week-old RCMP puppy visited kids at the centre as part of the K9 Cops for Kids Christmas campaign.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-RCMP
REGINA - Santa may deliver the gifts, but it's an RCMP puppy named Elf who is bringing cheer to sick children.
The 10-week-old German shepherd visited kids at a rehabilitation centre in Regina on Tuesday as part of the K9 Cops for Kids Christmas campaign.
"We're trying to give them the feeling of being back at home. Animals, especially puppies, just bring smiles on people's faces," said RCMP Cpl. Sean Cleary.
"It's just a little bit of home in the hospital environment."
Each child also gets a stuffed dog that looks like Elf. Cleary said the toy is something for the kids to cuddle with and hold when "they're having a bit of a tougher time."
"The reaction from the kids has been amazing, from absolute joy, elatement," he said.
"It's just been really nice. And not only the kids, but also the parents because ... for them, being in hospital over Christmas, they're tired, they're stressed out ... as any parent would be. So it's a little of a relief for them, too, not only to see their kids happy, but ... it's a little bit of a break for them as well."
Krista Smith was at the rehabilitation centre with her eight-year-old Logan. Logan has athetoid cerebral palsy and has to go to the centre every couple of weeks for therapy.
Smith said they were a little shocked to see Elf this time.
"I think it definitely made the day for the kids because they're used to coming, but it was something out of the ordinary and it kind of surprised them and it was exciting," said Smith.
"He was very excited."
Elf sat on Logan's lap and licked at the little boy's face. Logan smiled, said "Hi Elf" and petted the dog's fur.
Cleary, who has two young children of his own, said he started the program because he wanted to help other kids.
Cleary, other RCMP officers and municipal police dog handlers expect to visit nearly 120 children in pediatric hospital units in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.
Saskatchewan is believed to be the first province to offer the program, but Cleary hopes it's not the last.
"I'm just really hoping that not only will it be an annual event, but it will expand across the country."
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Police dog handler brings stuffed toy dogs to sick kids
CBC News Posted: Dec 14, 2012 9:13 PM CST
click the following links: See: Cpl Sean Cleary on CBC
See: CJME News
An RCMP dog handler is hoping to cheer up some sick kids in hospitals across the province by visiting them during the holidays and giving them each a stuffed toy police dog.
Cpl. Sean Cleary is also planning to show youngsters, who are well enough to interact with a dog, a working police dog at hospitals that allow animals inside. As well, in some places he will show youngsters a puppy that was in the police dog training program.
"My goal, if we're completely successful, is for the hour that we're there we give the kids some smiles and give them the opportunity to forget they're in hospital," Cleary told CBC's Morning Edition host Sheila Coles on Friday.
Visits are set to begin on Monday.
Cleary is currently based in Prince Albert.
The project was inspired after he realized how fortunate he is that he has two healthy girls in his family, one aged 2, the other just 10 weeks old.
He thought about all the other kids who were born with health issues and decided to do something beyond a donation to a foundation.
He was able to get 120 RCMP toys — stuffed service dogs — at cost, through the RCMP heritage centre with support from the Canadian Police K-9 Association. That number is just enough to deliver a plush toy to every child in hospital in Saskatchewan.
K-9 handlers from across the province have also been lined up to help out with the visits.
"What I get out of it is the opportunity to put some smiles on kids faces," Cleary said. "I think it's going to remind them of home. And that's what we're trying to do."
