{"id":79213,"date":"2025-05-09T09:32:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T07:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/?p=79213"},"modified":"2025-05-09T09:33:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T07:33:51","slug":"fun-laughter-amidst-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/fun-laughter-amidst-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun, laughter amidst lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Much fun and laughter was had by everyone who took part in the Walk by Faith initiative that was held at the Welkom-Volkskool on Saturday, 26 April.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organised by Nicky Barnes there were exciting activities like a Walk by Faith Challenge, were participants were blindfolded and then guided through an obstacle course, receiving instructions from a “guide.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes says she wanted to create an awareness amongst able-bodied people as to the obstacles and even frustrations experienced by people with disabilities. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was also a dog show for small breed dogs and puppies, and after much laughter and giggling during the awards ceremony for the “fugliest”, most beautiful, and the friendliest dogs. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, there were loads of fun food stalls, and others offering curiosities. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grant Smith, a behavior and training specialist of SmartService Dog, gave a service dog demonstration and talk. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He used one of his trained service dogs, Huckleberry Finn, to enamour the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith trains dogs to be service dogs that can be used by people with autism, hearing and mobility impairments, as psychiatric service dogs, diabetic alert dogs and therapy dogs. His company’s motto is “Changing Lives One Dog at a Time”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smith trains dogs to be service dogs that can be used by people with autism, hearing and mobility impairments, as psychiatric service dogs, diabetic alert dogs and therapy dogs. 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is a service dog who was raised and trained by Grant Smith of SmartService Dog. 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