The cool crispness of fall was definitely in the air Saturday for the 10th DogtoberFest, held at St. Francis Service Dogs in Roanoke. The annual event brings dogs and their human counterparts out to play such games as “Lick the Peanut Butter off the Spoon” and activities such as “Pawcasso” and agility courses. For the kids, there was face painting and a separate area complete with bouncy house. Darth Vader and three Stormtroopers served as chaperones.
“All proceeds from DogtoberFest support obtaining, raising, training and placement of Saint Francis Service Dogs with children and adults who have disabilities,” says Niki Voudren, St. Francis Service Dogs’ Director of Development.
It takes more than two years and over $25,000 to train one dog to be united with a partner.
Dog owners got to show off their pooch during the Parade of Breeds. As each dog was announced, the owner would bring them forward and have them sit or do a trick for the appreciative audience.
In the spirit of Halloween, some of the dogs sported costumes. There was a clown and a flower – and even a bride and groom, Sir Charles and Bailey Doug Catron from Moneta said they were “Going to marry them today.”
Catron said his wife was looking at dog costumes on the internet and thought these would be appropriate. They’ve attend the event nearly every year. “I like that they always have different dogs. . .and it helps get them socialized.”
Cindy and Larry Ford agreed. “We love bringing them out, letting them socialize. We try to help (St. Francis) out and help any way we can to raise money. They have also come nearly every year and this time were enjoying the cooler temperatures. They were accompanied by Marley, their 7 1/2 –year-old Great Pyrenees.
Cinnamon the 8-year-old rescue Bassett Hound was sporting a firefighting costume. Her message was to, “support your local fire department.” “She does a lot of dressing up for the local fire department dinners and everything,” said Cinnamon’s owner, Sandy Cranston from Smith Mountain Lake. “We’ve been coming for five years now and we kind of started the dress up thing, I think. Because the very first year, we thought it was a dress up thing and Cinnamon was a “red hat lady” and that was a scream.”
She was also accompanied by her granddaughter Maria Anderson from Lynchburg and her “granddog,” Bella the Bumblebee.
– Beverly Amsler
