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28FOCUS-OCTOBER2012WhenKathyAslingwasalittlegirlhermomwouldnx19tletherhaveapet.x1cWhenyougrowupandgetyourownplaceyoucanhaveallthedogsyouwantx1dhermothersaidtoher.YoungKathytookthistoheart.SinceshefoundedTheAnimalGuard-ianSocietyTAGS25yearsagoshehashadthousandsofdogscomeandgoinandoutofherlifeherhomeherheartandherbackyard.ThepurposeofTAGSistorescuedogswhoarehomelessorindangerofbeingputdownandx12ndthemsuitableforeverhomes.ThankstoAslingherteamofvolunteerspluscharitabledonationsTAGShasgrownfromaonewomanoperationbasedoutofanurbanOshawahometoaprofessionalfacilitywithclassroomsinportablesandafenceddogparkona20acrespreadwitharuralBlack-stockaddress.Thatx19ssomethingtocelebrate.TAGSishost-inga25thAnniversaryGalatocommemoratethelandmarkofhelpingdogsforaquarterofacentury.TheeventwillbeheldonSaturdayOctober13from5p.m.to1a.m.attheAjaxConventionCentre.Ticketsare100.eachandincludedinneranddancing.Donationitemsforthesilentauctionarewelcomed.FormoreinfocallTAGSat905-263-8247orEmilyGassienat905-985-8167orgoonlineatwww.animalguardian.org.AregisteredcharityTAGSgetsnogovern-mentfundingandhasnopaidstaff.Therex19sabout60volunteerswhodoeverythingfromobediencetrainingtofosteringtotakingdogstothevet.Morefosterfamiliesarealwaysneededsomoredogscanbehelped.Thereisanextensivescreeningprocessforpetadoptionsincludinghomevisits.Aslingsaidtheyhavetoensurethatthedogandthenewfamilyareagoodmatch.x1cFosterhomesmakedogsmoreadoptablex1dAurorawithBiscottiwhoisnothinx19butahounddogasElviswouldsay.Aslingsaid.Livingcompatiblywithafamilyandpracticinggoodmannersandbehaviourinahomesettingisimportant.ObediencetrainingisalsopartoftheTAGSprogram.AndreeWagarhasvolunteeredforTAGSfor10yearsandsheenjoysputtingthedogsthroughtheirpacesinthedogpark.ShebringsalongherowndogTyadoptedfromTAGSinMarch2007.x1cTymakesmelaughx1dsaidWagar.x1cHex19ssmartandeasytotrain.x1dWeeTygetsoutthereinthedogparktoshowtheotherdogstheropes.Basicpettrainingincludessitsdownsstaysandre-calls.Wagarsaiditisimportanttotraindogstositwhensome-onecomestothedoorforexample.Aslingx19sgranddaughterseven-year-oldAuroraAslinglikestohelpout.x1cItx19sfunx1dshesaid.x1cIlikethegameslikemusicalhoops.x1dMeanwhileAurorahasTyonaleashunderashadetreesohecancooloffafterrunningaroundthedogpark.Shegiveshimsomefriendlypats.AswellastrainingthedogswhoareupforadoptionTAGSoffersobediencesessionstothegeneralpublicatthecostofonly125.foreightweeks.TheideaistotrainthepeoplehowtotrainthedogssaidAsling.TAGSeducatesdogownersonhealthandnutritionfortheirpets.AfuturedreamisaWellnessCentre.x1cWeneedtobeadvocatesfortheanimalsx1dsaidWagarwhoTAGSAfourletterwordthatprovidescarecomfortandconcernforrescuedogs