Jack London Square Goes To The Dogs

OAKLAND, CA — Sporting wings and a bright yellow bee costume, Peggy the pug insouciantly navigated the crowd at DogFest at Oakland's Jack London Square Saturday, guided by her owner Joyce Carr of Oakland.

Peggy was one of many dogs at the Halloween-themed event, which raises money for Canine Companions for Independence, a national organization that provides free assistance dogs to the disabled.

Tiny Peggy, and most of the other dogs at the event, appeared completely unintimidated by the crowds. This held true even when Roxie the Great Dane, weighing in around 140 pounds, came into view dressed as a racehorse.

"Everyone always asks us, 'Is this a dog or a horse?'" said Liz Harrison of Hayward. The question inspired her husband Scott, who decorated Roxie with pink elastic bandages around her ankles and a "saddle" cut from pink cloth.

"The dogs wear the costumes so well. They don't seem to mind," observed Faye Baker, a volunteer with Canine Companions for Independence. A DJ was blasting loud music and organizers estimated around 1,000 people came and went during the event.

This is the third year for DogFest, and Canine Companions already met its fundraising goal of $125,000 through online donations leading up to the event, according to Karen Cervantes, vice president of the East Bay Miracles chapter of Canine Companions.

"I Invented Hump Day," read a T-shirt for sale at a booth for Wag City Clothing, a doggie couturier. Other booths featured veterinarians, professional dog trainers and dog treat purveyors.

Ubiquitous throughout the event were the golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers used by Canine Companions, wearing blue-trimmed yellow capes bearing the organization's logo. The dogs undergo rigorous training and are valued at $50,000 each, and are given to disabled adults, children and veterans for free.

Pitbull Macy, 5, donned a rainbow-colored tutu for the occasion. She was accompanied by owner Rachel Kadner of Oakland and Rachel's daughter Zoe, 10, wearing a cape and carrying a sorcerer's wand.

"I'm an evil puppy lord," Zoe explained. "I wanted to be an evil lord, but I also wanted to be a dog. So I mixed them together." — Bay City News