Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid

01/07/2026

It's a New Year and time to commit to Pet First Aid and safety! Here's the Wednesday Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid Weekend Update. Sign up for these great course locations!

IN PERSON PET FIRST AID
• Nanaimo BC: January 11 with Pawsitive Touch Canine Massage
• New Westminster BC: January 11 with Mindful Mutts
• Vancouver BC: January 11 with Lisa Wagner, Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid
• Burlington ON: January 11 with Peninsula Pet First Aid
• Stittsville ON: January 11 with Dragonluck Kennels

GROUP VIRTUAL PET FIRST AID AND OFF THE GRID
• Next group Zoom Pet First Aid class is: September 24 & 25 with Nice Dog, Scarlett
• Next group Zoom OFF THE GRID (for Pet First Aid grads only) class is: January 31 with Nice Dog, Scarlett

Learn more and register for the above (+ many other 2026 dates & locations) via: http://walksnwags.com/pet-first-aid-courses/

📸: From a 2021 class with Richmond BC instructor Cheryl Ng 伍殷嬅.

01/06/2026

Did you know that Walks 'N' Wags doesn't sell spaces into our instructor program?

That's right, interested parties must meet a series of prerequisites, complete a lengthy application, interview, and undergo reference checks. We want to ensure that only the best of the best are offering Walks 'N' Wags' courses.

📸: Longtime instructor Doug Shirton of Peninsula Pet First Aid. Since 2019, Doug has offered Walks 'N' Wags courses in the Hamilton/Burlington Ontario area. Outside of Walks 'N' Wags, Doug is the Executive Director of Burlington Humane Society.

01/05/2026

The 14th annual Holiday Charity Drive has come to a close.

We are pleased to announce the recipient rescue of the $250 donation. And the winner is...Camrose & Area Animal Shelter Society nominated by Leah Daoust of Canine Connection Pet Services - Pet First Aid.

Congrats to Camrose & Area Animal Shelter Society! We know this donation is only a drop in the bucket towards what you need for the animals, but we are happy to contribute.

Learn more about Camrose & Area Animal Shelter Society here: www.camroseanimalshelter.ca

Thank you to every rescue featured this year for the amazing work you do! If anyone wants to learn more about the 13 charities from our 14th annual Holiday Charity Drive please review our December posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Camrose & Area Animal Shelter Society, please watch out for our donation shortly. Many thanks! 🤩

01/04/2026

We are grateful to hear this sweet dog is doing well after this scary fall through the ice. 🥶

Please note this family made the correct choice to call 911. In a pet first aid emergency, your own safety is priority #1.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

🚒🐾 Happy Ending on the Ice – Dog Rescue Success!

Today, Whistler Fire Rescue responded to a call about a pup who had fallen through thin ice on Alta Lake.

Thanks to the quick-thinking owners who immediately called 911 and stayed back (exactly the right thing to do – never risk your own safety on unstable ice!), our crew was able to deploy swiftly, reach the dog safely, and bring this chilly little adventurer back to dry land and his relieved family.

The dog is doing great – a bit cold and shaken, but already wagging that tail again!

A huge shout-out to the owners for doing everything right, and a reminder to everyone: thin ice is no joke. Keep pets on leash near frozen water and always call us if something goes wrong – we’ve got the training and gear to handle it safely.

Another great save for the team – and the best kind of call: one with a happy reunion. ❤️

ThinIceIsDangerous

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🥳

PS. Red and Howling is truly talented, give her a follow if you don’t already.

12/31/2025

Ingestion of fireworks isn’t something many would think of! Please be safe and have fun tonight. Happy New Year! 🥳

🎆 New Year’s Eve sparkles can hide unexpected dangers for pets.

Fireworks can be tempting to curious noses and mouths, but ingestion can lead to serious health risks. In fact, ASPCA Poison Control received 187 calls in 2024 related to pets ingesting fireworks. Share these safety tips and explore a wealth of resources on animal toxicology. https://www.aspcapro.org/topics/aspca-poison-control-and-toxicology

12/27/2025

CONTEST CLOSED

For the 10th consecutive year Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid did not send our Instructors Christmas cards. Why? We want to spread cheer where it is most needed in the pet community, and our instructors are selfless and kind.

As you know, we run a holiday charity drive each year. We encourage you to learn more about the rescues we feature and to make a donation to them if you are able.

This year, as shelters and rescues are filled to the brim, more than ever, we know these funds are desperately needed.

That's why, 1 of the 13 pet charities featured will also receive a $250 CASH donation from Walks 'N' Wags. We wish we could give more, but this $250 will certainly go to great use helping animals in need.

Below is how you can help us select the charity to receive the donation.

RULES:
1. Research each of the 13 charities we've included in Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid's 14th annual Holiday Charity Drive. You'll find them each featured on our page over the past 2 weeks.

2. Comment on this post on which of the 13 charities you think should receive the $250. Be very specific with your vote as some of the charities have similar names. You can also comment on the same post on Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid Instagram account.

3. Vote for as few or as many of the charities as you wish. However, we will only count 1 vote per person per charity on each account (ie. don't vote for the same charity more than once).

4. The charity with the most votes as of 11:00 pm PST January 1, 2026 wins the $250! We'll announce the winner on Facebook and Instagram on January 5, 2026.

5. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by nor associated with Facebook nor Instagram.

Please spread the word and get those votes in for your favorite charities! We can't wait to make this donation! ❤️

12/25/2025

Happy Holidays to everyone in our community!

And thanks to Santa to dropping by Discover Dogs for a photo with Boss Dog Stanley. 🎅

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays!

WNW Head Office will be open with limited hours over the next week while we take a little time off with family.

Wishing you a peaceful and safe holiday season! ⛄️

12/23/2025

Do you finally have some free time over the holidays? Now is the perfect time to earn your pet first aid certification!

We know many of you work in the pet care industry and keep a busy schedule. WNW’s independent online learning program is here for you this holiday season!

Independent online students can use a smartphone, tablet or laptop to work at their own pace through the course. They also have access to our head office for any questions along the way. The course offers the same certification as our in-class programs do.

Learn more about independent online learning and register here: www.walksnwags.org

📷: student Donna practices skills at home

12/22/2025

Did you get a chance to drop an item or two off to one of the many Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid Holiday Charity Drive locations?

The boxes are still up in many of the locations, but will be collected shortly. We'd be grateful if you swung by with an item to add today.

Another great way to help is to follow the 13 amazing pet charities on socials and learn more about what they do to make a difference.

Happy Holidays!