Calgary Pet Care Volunteers seeks support for gala fundraiser to bring 'joy to others' – Calgary

It's a big week for a Calgary organization helping people get through tough times.

The Pet Access League Society (PALS) is gearing up for its annual gala fundraising event this weekend to provide much-needed support to the group's hard-working volunteers and their four-legged friends.

“This is our big fundraiser of the year,” explained PALS volunteer Heather Rutherford. “We're trying to get as many people as possible to come and join us.”

The event raises money for PALS volunteers and their pets to travel to pet treatments at various locations in and around Calgary.

“We go to nursing homes, hospitals, nursing homes.”

On these trips, Rutherford is accompanied by her dog, Lucas, and PALS volunteer Victoria Winslow is always busy with her cat, Enzo.

“We go to people in drug and alcohol treatment, women's shelters (and) homeless shelters,” Winslow said.

Rutherford and Winslow, along with PALS volunteer Teresa Greenley and her dog Pippa, enjoyed supporting the Chimuk family during a chance encounter during a PALS visit to Calgary International Airport.

The Chimuks are traveling through Calgary on their way home from Winnipeg after visiting the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton.

It was here that four-year-old Ryker Chimuk underwent heart surgery to combat a serious congenital condition.

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“So he's been through a lot, and we've been through a lot,” Ryker's father, Jordan Chimuk, said. “After you've been really stressed, pets calm you down.

“So that's a big part of the treatment.”

PALS volunteers say helping with treatment is a rewarding experience.

“It's great to see your pet bring joy to others,” Granley said. “We see that people are really fired up and all of our pets are enjoying what they're doing.”

The PALS fundraiser, dubbed the Belle Suiree, will be held on Saturday, February 10 at the Carriage House Inn on Macleod Trail South.

“It supports the program and provides people with treatment for their pets,” Rutherford said. “For us to be able to provide that is huge.”

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