LAURIE WEIR
If you’ve ever stopped by Paws Oasis in Perth for your pet’s needs, you may have noticed a small but mighty sign of community spirit—a donation jar.
Owner Linda Lalonde has been rallying support for the off-leash dog park at Darou Farm, helping the Perth Dog Park Community reach a major milestone.
After years of fundraising, the group has officially hit its $30,000 goal—unlocking a matching commitment from the Town of Perth to begin fencing a 1.3-acre section of the property.
Cathy McNally, the town’s community service director, told Hometown News that she will recommend the next steps to council during Feb. 11 committee of the whole (COW) meeting.
“I’ll bring a report asking for council’s go-ahead to proceed with the dog park,” she said. “Council committed $30,000 once the community raised the same amount. Now that they’ve reached their goal, I’ll present this to council in February and ask to move forward.”
For Dog Park Committee member Tania Lyn Cadeau, this moment is huge. She’s encouraging supporters of the dog park to attend the council chambers that evening to show positive support. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.
“We received a $12,500 grant from the Perth and District Community Foundation, which pushed us just past $33,000,” she said. “With Paws Oasis stepping in to help with fundraising, it looks like we’re on track to see the dog park take shape this year.”
The work isn’t over yet. Cadeau said they hope to continue fundraising to add key amenities like an accessible washroom, a water feature, signage, and a fully accessible pathway.
“We’re thrilled to have Paws Oasis on board,” she said. “Community support like this makes all the difference.”
Giving back, one cause at a time
Lalonde, who owns Paws Oasis, has made it her mission to support local charities throughout the year. Every three months, her business will launch a new fundraising effort for a different cause.
“Darou Park was our first charity,” she said. “It’s a way for us to give back. We’re asking our customers to donate when they come in for services.”
After just a few weeks, they’ve already raised several hundred dollars.
“I wasn’t sure how it would go,” Lalonde admitted. “This is new for me, but it would be amazing if we could hit $1,000.”
Dubbed their Valentine’s Fundraiser, the campaign will run through February. In March, they’ll launch a St. Patrick’s Fundraiser—also benefiting Darou Farm.
“I’m hopeful we can do at least two fundraisers, but we’ll see how it goes,” Lalonde said.
Valentine’s Fundraiser event
To help boost donations, Paws Oasis is hosting a Valentine’s Fundraiser – Yappy Hour – at Darou Farm on Sunday, Feb. 16, from noon to 4 p.m. The afternoon will be packed with fun for pets and their people, including:
- Dog photos & treats from Perth Barkery
- Social playtime for pups
- Basket draw
- Non-alcoholic beer from Perth Brewery
- Nail trims for dogs
- Food from Tater Time
- Safety training with Strategic Risk Protection Inc.
With the community rallying behind it, Perth’s dog park dream is closer than ever to becoming a reality.
