Sales from the Lethbridge Police K-9 calendar have been donated to a national charity supporting retired police and military dogs.
Handler Steve Zwartbol said the $9,000 donation for Ned’s Wish were generated through sales of the 2026 canine unit calendar, sold throughout late October and early November last year.
“We just set up in areas of the community where people could come and purchase those calendars with all the funds then being set aside for Ned’s Wish, our charity of choice,” he said.
Zwartbol said Ned’s Wish was selected because of its work supporting police and military dogs across Canada after they retire. He said the organization provides financial and educational support to enhance the quality of life for the dogs in retirement.
He said service dogs often face physical and emotional strain over their careers, which can lead to health challenges later in life.
“So, this is a way for us to give back to these dogs who give so much to for their community and for us to keep us safe for their entire working life,” he said.
Zwartbol said the Lethbridge unit has previously been supported by the organization, including help covering medical costs for a dog that had to be retired due to a spinal condition.
“They helped us out with one of our dogs. We had him medically retired due to some slipped disc and degenerative spine,” he said. “So, we were able to cover part of the surgery, but Ned’s Wish jumped in and very graciously covered the rest, which would then improve the quality of life for this dog as he moved forward.”
Zwartbol said the experience highlighted the importance of giving back.
“As they’ve helped us in our own community, it gives us an opportunity where we can now pay that forward for someone else.”
More information about Ned’s Wish is available online.
