Halla is a retired RCMP K-9 and will drop the opening puck on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Oceanside Place Arena in Parksville, as the Oceanside Generals take on a team of local first responders to raise money for retired police and military dogs like Halla, who spent most of her career on Vancouver Island. (Ned's Wish)

By Jordan Davidson

retired K-9s

Oceanside Generals face first responders in charity hockey game for retired dogs

Feb 1, 2025 | 5:59 AM

PARKSVILLE — They are known as man’s best friend, and an Alberta-based charity is teaming up with a mid-Island hockey team to ensure pooches who serve can retire comfortably.

Ned’s Wish raises money so retired RCMP and military dogs can live their best life, with a team of local first responders taking on the Oceanside Generals on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in a charity game at Oceanside Place Arena.

President of Ned’s Wish Stacey Talbot said this was organized by RCMP member and former VIU Mariner hockey player Cst. Josh Cook, who initially reached out to Ned’s Wish to make this charity game happen.

“The Police Service Dog section is right in Nanaimo and Parksville. We got a long history in that area as well with them…. I won’t say a perfect storm but the perfect coming together of some fabulous people that just are bringing it all together.”

Cook is no stranger to hockey-related charity, helping to bring hundreds of pounds of hockey equipment to Kinnigait, Nunavut, a remote northern community of around 1,400 people in 2022.

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Talbot said while tax dollars support the canines while in service the money stops once they retire and they also don’t get a pension their human counterparts enjoy.

“Because these dogs have been, for lack of a better word, living a pro-athlete life, jumping in and out of vehicles, tracking, sniffing, up and down, their bodies get a significant toll taken on them, so we try to make sure we can cover those costs so they can get the retirement they so earnestly deserve.”

Halla hanging out by the ocean. Ned’s Wish wants to ensure all retired police and military dogs get the retirement they deserve. (Ned’s Wish)

She said in the six years their charity has been in operation they’ve covered over $420,000 in expenses for their canine heroes, with the majority going towards vet bills. At any given time, she said they are helping around 100 dogs.

Talbot said they’re currently working on fundraising for a re-home facility, where retired dogs can have a place to go before finding their forever home if their handler is unable to adopt them.

“Between their working life and the breed they are, they can be susceptible to different things…that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. So you can appreciate this is your partner, he/she saved your life, and now you’re faced with an enormous bill. How do you cover that?”

Tickets for the charity game are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students, and $8 for kids aged five-11. Those five years of age or under get in for free.

A teddy bear toss is also scheduled for some point during the game, with all stuffed animals donated to local children in hospital.

More information on how to get tickets can be found here at oceansidegenerals.com.

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