Chris Michalak- Canine Specialist

Chris Michalak- Canine Specialist Certified CGN Evaluator, Certified Service Dog Trainer, Certified Canine First Aid Instructor, Canadian Kennel Club Member, and Certified Trick Dog Evaluator.
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Chris Michalak has been involved with dogs since a young age, starting out as a Junior Handler for Siberian Huskies in confirmation shows, and eventually owning and importing her first Hungarian Vizsla, Charlie, from England at the age of 12. Charlie then went on to acquire Canadian and American championships in confirmation, obedience, and field trials. Chris is highly-regarded in the dog rescue

world, particularly in the category of 'hard to home' dogs, and is a specialist in canine behaviour & rehabilitation. Her 'hard to home' dogs have earned numerous titles and certifications. Additionally, Chris participates in a number of dog sports, such as scent detection, tracking, formal obedience, Rally-O, agility, and dock diving. She is also a falconer and a Wildlife Rehabilitation specialist for birds of prey. Chris is dedicated to promotion of therapy/service dogs (working directly with Sweet Charity), and has various affiliations with the Canadian Kennel Club, is a Certified CGN Evaluator, Certified Service Dog Trainer, Certified Canine First Aid Instructor, and Certified Trick Dog Evaluator. As a testament to her devotion to animals, Chris is committed to continuing her professional development in canine behaviour and animal care.

05/27/2026

2026 Pool Season at the Canine Country Club and Radars first swim at the pool

05/25/2026
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital newest recruits for the Sweet Charity Canine Ambassador Program have been practicin...
05/24/2026

Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital newest recruits for the Sweet Charity Canine Ambassador Program have been practicing their lessons and testing their skills during our training sessions.

These future teams will be walking the hallways, visiting offices and areas throughout the the hospital to bring much needed and support to those in need 🐾

05/23/2026

Radar is improving with his balance and body awareness but it still needs some work 🤣

With the long weekend among us, please keep fireworks safety and your pets in mind🐾
05/16/2026

With the long weekend among us, please keep fireworks safety and your pets in mind🐾

Hi everyone, I’m reaching out to invite you to be part of something special. Sweet Charity is taking part in COPE Servic...
05/12/2026

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to invite you to be part of something special.

Sweet Charity is taking part in COPE Service Dogs’ Buddy Up campaign with our own dedicated fundraising page. As you know, our organization runs entirely off fundraising, and we are calling on our amazing community to help us achieve our goal of raising $20,000.

The funds raised through this page will go directly to Sweet Charity, helping us continue supporting children and youth facing barriers through our Canine Ambassador Program.

We’re calling on our incredible community of teachers, volunteers, and supporters to help us spread the word and raise critical funds.

Getting started is simple:

🚨DONATE: Go online and donate if you’re able to:

https://bit.ly/BU2026SweetCharity

➡️SHARE: Send an email or message to 10–15 friends, family members, or colleagues. Include the above link, and a quick personal note about why Sweet Charity matters to you.

🎉That’s it. If each of us reaches a small group, the collective impact can be huge!

You can also share the page on social media or within your networks. Every share helps build momentum.

🐾 Finally, we’d love for you to join the Buddy Up wrap-up celebration on June 20 at St. Vincent Park (10:30 AM – 12 PM). It will be a fun, family-friendly morning led by COPE Service Dogs meant to connect, celebrate, and see the impact we’ve made together.

Sweet Charity

🌿 TIP TUESDAY: Tiny plant. Huge problem.Foxtails and grass awns may look harmless…but they can become a serious medical ...
05/12/2026

🌿 TIP TUESDAY: Tiny plant. Huge problem.

Foxtails and grass awns may look harmless…
but they can become a serious medical issue for dogs.

These dry, barbed grass seeds are designed to move in one direction only: forward.

That means once they attach to your dog, they can work their way:

Into paws, ears, eyes, noses, skin...and they do not back out on their own.

🌾 Where Dogs Pick Them Up

Most commonly:

Hiking trails
Open fields
Tall grass
Dry roadside areas
Overgrown parks

Spring and early summer are peak season.

⚠️ Signs to Watch For

🐾 Paw Involvement
Sudden limping
Intense paw licking
Swelling between toes

👂 Ear Involvement
Head shaking
Pawing at ears
Sudden sensitivity

👃 Nose Involvement
Violent sneezing
Pawing at nose
Nasal discharge

👁️ Eye Involvement
Squinting
Redness
Excessive tearing

🚨 Why They’re Dangerous

Foxtails can:

Migrate deeper into tissue
Cause painful infections
Require sedation or surgery to remove

👉 The longer they stay embedded, the worse the damage can become.

🚑 First Aid Response
Check your dog after walks or hikes

Especially:

Paws
Between toes
Ears
Armpits
Belly fur

Remove visible foxtails carefully, only if they are easy to access and not too deeply embedded. Do NOT dig excessively - you can push them deeper or damage tissue

Seek veterinary care if signs persist

Especially:

Ongoing limping
Sneezing
Head shaking

🛑 Prevention Tips

✔ Avoid tall dry grass when possible
✔ Keep paw fur trimmed
✔ Do post-walk checks
✔ Brush long-coated dogs regularly

Address

Barrie, ON

Website

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