Ardra Cole with Poppy
Photos: © Cassie at Wet Nose Photography

Homing elder dogs

In 2009, Costco member Ardra Cole founded ElderDog Canada. This charitable organization helps seniors to keep their canine companions by finding volunteers who provide dog care support. ElderDog also finds new homes for aging dogs.

The idea for the organization began germinating in the 10 years Cole spent as a university professor researching what care looks like. The idea for ElderDog took root when her brother passed away suddenly. At that point, Cole took in her brother’s dog, Mr. Brown, who had terminal cancer. She started ElderDog to honour her brother and Mr. Brown. The idea for ElderDog, says Cole, was “born of love and loss.”

She began with one Pawd (local chapter) in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Now, the organization is 36 Pawds—and 4,000 volunteers—strong.

Cole’s goal? “To make ElderDog a household name.”—Carimé Lane

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MEMBER INFO

• Who Ardra Cole
• Hometown Halifax
• Occupation Full-time university professor and volunteer leader of ElderDog Canada
• Website ElderDog.ca
• Most rewarding part of job “When volunteers sign up, they think, ‘It’d be great if I get my doggy fix and help somebody.’ But, once they get into it, it is incredibly rewarding because they realize those small acts of generosity make the world of difference.”—Ardra Cole