Gather your friends, family and dogs for a day of fun on September 13 at Local Roots in Vista, CA.

Join us for DogFest Southwest 2025, a milestone event celebrating 50 incredible years of Canine Companions! Enjoy a day full of fun, joy and a deep commitment to our mission of providing expertly trained service dogs to individuals with disabilities free of charge.

DogFest is a family-friendly and pet-friendly event open to everyone! While there’s no fee to register, we encourage all participants to join the fun in raising funds so that we can provide more service dogs to those who need them.

GET READY FOR:

• Exciting Activities: Enjoy agility courses, costume contests and more fun for everyone!
• Vendors: There’s  something for everyone, both humans and dogs, thanks to our fantastic vendors.
• Live Entertainment: Groove to the beats of a DJ and lively commentary from an  emcee.

Let’s make DogFest Southwest 2025 a memorable celebration highlighting 50 years of enhancing independence. Your participation and fundraising efforts help us continue to provide life-changing service dogs to those in need.

Here are some ways YOU can get involved this year... We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

At Canine Companions, we’re at the forefront of the service dog industry, dedicated to enhancing the independence of our clients through our expertly trained service dogs. Since our founding in 1975, we’ve provided service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities, as well as facility dogs to professionals in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings—all at no cost to our clients.

Our commitment is unwavering: every  dog and follow-up service are  provided at no charge, ensuring that individuals and organizations can focus on the life-changing impact of our  extraordinary dogs without financial barriers.

Jason and facilitators Tim and Nancy with Oasis:

The Gackstetter family has been involved with Canine Companions for over 20 years. It all started when Jason, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, was six years old and matched with his first service dog, Marisa, in 2004. Marisa provided a calming presence for Jason when out in public and a social bridge as Jason loved to tell people about his awesome service dog. Jason was then matched with Service Dog Taran in 2014 and most recently with Service Dog Oasis in 2023. All of his service dogs have provided key tasks such as opening doors, picking up dropped items as well as providing a social bridge.
The Gackstetters have also been active volunteers for Canine Companions giving presentations and helping with outreach at events and in the community. They also served on the Southwest Region Regional Board for 17 years.

When you raise funds through DogFest, you directly contribute to this mission and help provide the gift of enhanced independence to those we serve. Your efforts make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities across the country.

Get started now and make a difference!

Click here to learn more about this important cause and how your support is vital.