Paw-sitively adorable! Picture of a dozen service dogs watching a production of Billy Elliot goes viral – as the woofs receive training on guiding theater-goers
- Photo of service dogs watching Billy Elliot in a Canada theater has gone viral
- Image got ‘lots of comments and heartwarming remarks’ like ‘Best photo ever’
- It got a response from Mark Hamill who portrayed Luke Skywalker in Star Wars
- Images from Stratford Festival show the animals perched on seats in Ontario
- Snap shows a canine posing with ballet pumps and hanging boxing gloves
- Organizers of the Relaxed Performance, ideal for those with special needs, said they behaved perfectly while scoping out the process with training handlers
- K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs practiced guiding people into bathroom stalls, getting through narrow aisles and generally navigating the theater
A photograph showing a group of service dogs watching a theater performance of Billy Elliot in Canada has gone viral.
Images from the Stratford Festival shows the animals perched on seats at the Ontario venue as they test out the show modified for audiences with special needs.
Snaps shared on social media feature at least 10 pooches peeking over the comfortable cushioned seats and got thousands of reactions after being shared by social media accounts fanatical about dogs.
Organizers of the Relaxed Performance said they behaved perfectly while scoping out the process with training handlers so they could accompany theater-goers in future.
Photograph of service dogs watching Billy Elliot in a Canada theater has gone viral
Images from the Stratford Festival show the animals perched on seats in Ontario last week
One picture shows a canine posing with a pair of ballet pumps and hanging boxing gloves from the show about a coalminer’s son from Northern England who falls in love with classical dance when he’s supposed to be practice combat sport
‘About a dozen dogs came to our relaxed performance, and they were all extremely well-behaved,’ Stratford Festival spokesperson Ann Swerdfager told CBC. ‘I was in the lobby when they came in, then they took their seats, then got out of their seats at intermission and went back — all of the things we learn as humans when we start going to the theater.
One picture shows a canine posing with a pair of ballet pumps and hanging boxing gloves from the show about a coalminer’s son from Northern England who falls in love with classical dance when he’s supposed to be practice combat sport.
On Friday, the image even got a response from Mark Hamill who portrayed Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.
He tweeted the hashtag ‘dogs deserve their own musical’, and added: ‘The empty seats would be understandable if this was a performance of CATS.’
It was picked up by a Twitter account called We Rate Dogs that has 8.3 million followers, and another one called Darth which dressed one of the dogs up as Darth Vader.
Swerdfager said on Wednesday: ‘Lots of comments and heartwarming remarks like “Best photo ever” too. It’s been fantastic to watch it happen.’
The image even got a response from Mark Hamill who portrayed Luke Skywalker in Star Wars
Organizers of the Relaxed Performance said they behaved perfectly while scoping out the process with training handlers so they could accompany theater-goers in future
The dogs were training for a situation where a handler with autism, for example, may want to attend the theater.
They practice guiding people into small bathroom stalls, getting through narrow aisles and generally navigating the theater without being distracted by sounds or delicious-smelling food.
The Relaxed Performances are ideal for those who need to vocalize and move more in shows, or cope better under softer lighting.
The owner and head trainer with K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs added that the event went well.
‘All of the dogs were fantastic and remained relaxed throughout the performance. Some even watched through the cracks of the seats,’ Laura Mackenzie told CBC. ‘The dogs loved the show almost as much as their handlers.
‘It’s important to prepare the dogs for any activity the handler may like to attend. The theater gives us the opportunity to expose the dogs to different stimuli such as lights, loud noises and movement of varying degrees. The dogs must remain relaxed in tight quarters for an extended period of time.’
The doggie outing was also helpful for performers – especially young children appearing in Billy Elliot – so they can get used to staying in character under the watchful eyes of a pack of furry friends.
With the Stratford Festival holding performances until November 10 and hosting people with service dogs several times a week, the animals from K-9 Country Inn Service Dogs will return for another run-through when The Neverending Story plays on October 2.
The Crucible, Othello, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Merry Wives of Windsor are also scheduled over the next few months.
‘Everybody was so thrilled to see all these dogs at one time in the audience. It’s really exciting. And it’s thrilling to be part of something that is going to serve theatregoers of the future,’ Swerdfager added.
The Crucible, Othello, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Merry Wives of Windsor are also scheduled over the next few months