The gift

Lori Silverthorne with a pair of her puppies at home on Massassauga Road.

Massassauga Road resident shares her passion for dogs with those who cannot see

Lori Silverthorne is allergic to dogs— has been since she was 12 years old. But even as a girl she worried about what her aversion to dogs might mean.

“I loved animals but I couldn’t have them,” said Lori. “I thought it would be just my luck that I would go blind and need a seeing eye dog.”

Her reaction is profound.

“Within 15 minutes of going into a shedding dogs home—and I’m wheezing and sneezing. It’s terrible.”

So it may be surprising to learn that Lori is now a successful breeder of dogs as well as an important contributor to the Lion’s Club dog guide program.

Since 1983, the lives of over 1,200 men, women and children from the age of 8 to 84, have been enriched by the services of specially trained dog guides from Lion’s Foundation of Canada.

To do this work the Lion’s Club relies on the donation of dogs to the program. Janet Marissen is a past president of the Lion’s Club of Wellington and a leading volunteer and leader of the local dog guide program.

A few years ago Janet met Lori Silverthorne at a dog park. A friendship grew and suddenly Lori saw an important role that she could fulfill.

“The organization is always looking for dogs,” said Lori. “I decided this was something I had to do.”

But how did it come about that the person allergic to dogs was in a position to donate an animal to the dog guide program?

Lori refused to let an allergic reaction get in the way of her love of dogs. She bred collies for a while, keeping the animals in a cool kennel away from the house while tolerating her symptoms. Her husband wasn’t exactly a “dog person” so she got out of it. In the meantime she tested her reaction to standard poodles. No reaction. She had found her dog.

In 2002, her husband passed away.

“Four weeks later I had my first poodle,” said Lori. “He was a huge help to me during this difficult time. He was a distraction when I most needed something else to think about. My life has been filled with poodles ever since.”

Lori has donated three dogs to the program— the most recent an eight-week-old female puppy. Puppies of this breed and quality sell for up to $4,000.

Janet explains that Lori’s generosity extends beyond the value of these three dogs.

“Not only has she given these fine dogs to the program, she has also contributed the breeding rights,” explained Marrisen. “Her second pup has produced 40 offspring for the program.”

Lori is proud to help. Since getting to know Janet she has been introduced to some of the folks who use her animals and whose lives have been immensely enriched by the freedom they provide.

“It is wonderful cause,” says Lori. “I’m glad I am able to do it. As long as they don’t invite me to the graduation ceremony for all 40 dogs I’ll be happy.”