DogFest “Walk and Roll” celebrates service dogs

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

Now that we’re in the dog days of summer, it’s high time for a fundraiser supporting our best four-legged causes.

A custom built dog house up for silent auction at DogFest. Photo by Ben Olson.

Canine Companions for Independence is hosting a fundraiser next weekend to help support its mission to provide expertly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities free of charge. The North Idaho DogFest “Walk ‘n Roll” will take place Saturday, July 28, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Forrest Bird Charter School, 614 S. Madison Ave., in Sandpoint. It’s free to attend, but donations are gladly accepted.

“This is the national signature event for CCI, held all over the country in major cities,” said Lilly Mitsui, who has raised puppies for CCI.

Mitsui said DogFest is CCI’s primary fundraiser. 

“Our dogs are given at no cost to the disabled, and they are valued at around $50,000 each,” she said. “We receive no federal or government funding, but rely on personal and business donations, as well as community events like this.”

The event will feature music, food, activities for dogs and kids, canine contests, balloon animals, a silent auction, a wheelchair obstacle course, a costume content for “best decorated wheelchair” and much more. Plus, attendees will get to meet Honorary Chair Dr. Marty Becker. Sandpoint’s own Bashful Dan Young will be the M.C. for the event. Tacos Tacos food truck will provide food, fresh popcorn will available by Disabiltity Action Center NW and gourmet coffee will be poured by Evans Brothers.

A quick schedule of activities is as follows:

9:30 a.m. – Registration / check-in

10 a.m. – DogFest begins with opening ceremony, the booths will open and family and dog events begin

10:45 a.m. – Walk ‘n Roll begins

11:30 a.m. – Dr. Becker speaks and judgs Best Dog Gone Decorated Wheelchair Contest

12 p.m. – Meet the heroes  Canine Companions graduate introductions and stories

12:30 p.m. – Raise the Woof – Winners of Dog House Silent Auction announced

12:35 p.m. – Meet the future heroes – the Canine Companion puppies

1 p.m. – closing ceremony

Visit the Sandpoint Center inside of Columbia Bank to view and bid on beautiful, custom dog houses designed, built and graciously donated by local builders and architects. Proceeds from the auction will donated to CCI, with winners announced at DogFest at 12:30 p.m.

Mitsui said it’s important to raise money for CCI because of the organization’s dedication to giving back to those in need. She said there are five puppy raisers in the region, including one here in Sandpoint. Mitsui has raised four dogs with CCI, the last being “Falcon” who graduated last year and was given to a young woman in San Francisco. 

Typically, puppy raisers will teach the prospective service dogs socialization and basic obedience before they are turned back into CCI for “graduate school.” With 18 months of raising and another six months of professional training, the dogs are then matched up with someone in need.

“Last year, 403 dogs were placed all over the country,” said Mitsui. “We have five people on the waiting list in Idaho, and over 400 people continually on the waiting list for our dogs. By the way, we’re always looking for more puppy raisers, so if you’re interested, please contact CCI and help us place more dogs with people with disabilities free of charge.”

Contact www.cci.org for information.