DogFest Colorado 2022

Canine Companions transforms the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs. Our dogs perform practical tasks that enhance independence and reduce reliance on others. They aren't just the eyes and ears, hands and legs of their human partners, they're also goodwill ambassadors and often, our best friends. A student achieves their dreams of attending college. A veteran gets a good night sleep. A patient can endure an additional procedure. Lives are transformed after being matched and working with a Canine Companions service dog.

According to the U.S. Census, nearly 1 in 4 people in the U.S. have a disability. While it costs approximately $50,000 to raise and train every Canine Companions service dog and provide ongoing support to the human-canine team, each dog is provided to the recipient completely FREE of charge. Canine Companions has placed over 7,000 service dogs, but more than 400 people with disabilities are still waiting for a match.  

Our service dogs open up new opportunities and spread incredible joy. By raising funds through DogFest, you support our mission and the people we serve. Thank you.

Canine Companions in Colorado

• ​65 active graduates 
• 47 active puppy raisers 

Hi, I’m Kara, I am a Child Life Specialist.  This is my partner Posey, she is a Facility Dog.  I came to the profession of Child Life after having  an automobile accident that left me a right hand amputee.  I have always loved my work and have thrived in my life, happily married, mother of 6, 3 I birthed and  3 I  choose.  5 girls  and one boy, lots of love and chaos.  I grew up in a military family but have been in Colorado for  22 years .  I graduated from CSU in 1995 with a BS in HDFS and went on to train as a Child Life Specialist in Boston and New York. I have been a Child Life Specialist for 27 years , 17 of those years at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver. 

In 2018 my Child Life team started to dream about improving our practice by adding a Facility Dog to our pack.  In 2019 a patient of ours, Kylie latched on to that dream and it took off!  She spent the last months  of her life making sure the children, families and staff  of Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children had the kind of support, love, motivation and comfort only a dog can provide.  Incredible legacy! 

I’ve been working with Posey for a year and what a difference she makes.  The hard days are easier because she is there to provide a soft cuddle, a warm  wet kiss and quiet acceptance.  When motivation  is needed to get out of bed and walk  or  take medicine she is there as an encouraging cheerleader and  example to inspire kids to do hard things.  The instant I walk in the room with Posey I have rapport which helps me get to the work of Child Life and supports our kiddos while they develop coping skills in the hospital . She is a cherished team member, a kids best friend and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children’s MVP!

Melody is a civil / geotechnical engineer working for the Bureau of Reclamation in Lakewood, Colorado. She travels all over the US to construction sites and evaluates existing infrastructure for rehabilitation. In her spare time she likes to backpack, backcountry snowboard, hike, climb, and knit. Melody was born with a hearing disability and has worn hearing aids her whole life. Serissa is a hearing service dog, and two years ago in December 2020 Melody and Serissa became a team . Serissa is trained to alert Melody to things like alarms, oncoming traffic, doorbells, and hikers on trails. Serissa has traveled with Melody to 13 different states including Hawaii, and during these travels she has saved Melody from being run over by vehicles and being hit by flying traffic cones on construction sites multiple times. Serissa has increased Melody’s awareness of the world around her and has made traveling for business a lot less dangerous. Melody can now take her hearing aids out when she sleeps at night and trust that Serissa will alert her to intruders or fire alarms.