DogFest LA/OC 2023

Everyone knows her from her New York Times Children’s Best Seller “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” What you might not know is that Laura Numeroff is an avid animal lover and has always wanted to write a book about service dogs. In 2016, Laura wrote a book for Canine Companions for Independence called “Raising a Hero.” The book is about a young boy raising a puppy to become a service dog in order to help people with disabilities. A portion of all sales supports Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit providing skilled service dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities and special needs, free of charge. Join us on August 26^th (National Dog Day) and purchase your very own signed copy of “Raising a Hero” and meet Laura Numeroff in person. This is fun-filled event for the entire family!

A true California girl, 28 year old Tianna Clark was born and raised in the Golden State. She graduated from Cal State San Bernardino in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. Currently, she is a Sergeant in the Army National Guard serving her community as a Career Counselor and Recruiter. In the future, she plans to utilize her expertise in Public Relations as a Public Affairs Officer. 

When Tianna was in middle school her beloved grandmother Marie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Knowing first hand the devastation of the disease and impact on the loved ones of those that are diagnosed, Tianna hopes to provide support and encouragement for families in need. She is also passionate about encouraging and empowering women and started her own blog called “In Bloom Woman”. 

A model and actress formerly signed with Next and Ford Models, Tianna also has an artistic eye and loves to sketch creative fashion designs. In her free time you can find her at various roller skating rinks with her skate crew “Roll Models”.

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 7,500 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 LA/OC area

• ​96 active graduates 
• 43 active puppy raisers 

Dynamic Duo Provide Beacon of Hope

At the Children’s Health of Orange County (CHOC) hospital, patients can receive care from a special dynamic duo. Facility Dogs Lois and Odessa play an integral part on the child life team and have direct impacts on patients’ clinical outcomes.  

Lois and her handler, Child Life Specialist Chloe, help hospitalized children and teens meet their clinical goals. “Lois provides endless support, whether it is motivating a young child to walk after surgery, educating a patient about a procedure or snuggling with a patient during a difficult conversation,” Chloe shares. 

Child Life Specialist Janessa and Facility Dog Odessa work in the hospital’s mental health inpatient center. Odessa helps decrease patients’ stress, anxiety and discomfort through deep pressure therapy and encourages self-expression through pawprint painting. Janessa shares, “Odessa provides a soft place to land when emotions are hard to process, listens intentionally and non-judgmentally and offers unconditional love and acceptance.” 

Together, they provide a beacon of hope and joy, helping to move patients forward on their important journeys.