The Central Florida chapter of Canine Companions will celebrate the bond between people and their pups when DogFest returns to Central Park on Saturday, April 20. This year’s event will be the third held in Winter Park but the 10th overall. Previous locations have included UCF Memory Mall and Maitland’s Lake Lily Park, but event organizer Marty Fischer says it’s all about the cause and the paws.
“Each regional chapter is responsible for having a DogFest,” he told the32789. “It’s really a celebration of the work we do and the money we raise to keep it all going.”
Canine Companions trainers begin teaching puppies simple commands that eventually become service-oriented actions to aid adults and children with disabilities. Opening doors, retrieving dropped items and alerting their owners to potential dangers are some of the duties that companion dogs carry out. Many trained canines also go into service in the healthcare, criminal justice, and education sectors.
The cost of raising and training a service dog, and for providing the ongoing support necessary for the human-canine team, is approximately $50,000. Canine Companions provides their services free of charge with nationwide campaigns helping to spread awareness and support the mission. A themed evening event called the Tales & Tails Gala offers a high-end dinner party that is scheduled this year for Oct. 26 (location info to come), but Fischer says the DogFest vibe is geared more toward family-fun and the general community. “We try to approach a different demographic at DogFest so that everybody can come and enjoy the day.”
DogFest will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Central Park West Meadow with the park’s “no dogs” ordinance relaxed for the event. Registration is free but donations are encouraged. Attendees can sign their dogs up for a lure course, and other offerings will include vendors, silent auctions, and a biergarten featuring brews by Rock Pit Brewery, Brewlando, Twelve Talons, Birtchtree Brewing, Bowigens, and Crooked Can.
Check the DogFest webpage for event information and donation, sponsorship, and volunteer opportunities.