DogtoberFest 2010

We would like to share some photos from this year's DogtoberFest, an annual event benefiting Saint Francis Service Dogs in Roanoke, Virginia.  Saint Francis is a non-profit organization that raises, trains, and places service dogs with children and adults with disabilities.  It's also the largest Service Dog organization in the state of Virginia, and is one of less than 50 accredited service dog organizations in the world.

With a new state-of-the-art kennel, Saint Francis is poised to train even more dogs in the future.  Each service dog is in the program for 2 years, and takes $25,000 to raise and train.  Saint Francis Service Dogs provide dogs at no cost to children and adults with disabilities.  They don't receive any state funding or insurance reimbursements.  All services rely on private donations, grants and fundraisers like DogtoberFest.  Zoe and Xander came along for the ride.  We learned a lot about Saint Francis Service Dogs, and had a pawsome time at their party!!!

A pumpkin and a bee!!

Good lookin' Doberman!

We didn't get our faces painted, but this young man made a great tiger!

Zoe making a new friend.

Xander and his daddy having a look around.

Xander and Zoe had lots of fun, except for Zoe's little freakout when a little Dachshund came in her direction.  LOL!