Woofgang & Co. Hosts Service Dog Event, April 28

Fairfield, CT – Woofgang & Co. will embrace dogs and disability on Saturday, April 28, with a special event featuring local canine celebrity Albert-on-Wheels and representatives from NEADS World Class Service Dogs at its 1300 Post Road store in downtown Fairfield.  

Albert and his owner will visit the store from 1-2 p.m. to share information, stories and heartwarming videos about how this beloved canine lives life to the fullest, despite having two paralyzed hind legs and relying on a canine-wheelchair for all mobility.  A frequent visitor to Fairfield Beach, Albert has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and is famous nationwide for his adorable nature and positive outlook on life.  To celebrate him, Woofgang & Co. will offer several commemorative “Albert products” designed especially for this weekend’s event.

Sarah Best and her assistance dog, Edison, will be on “paw” at the store from 1:30-3:00pm.  They represent NEADS World Class Service Dogs.  NEADS trains and places service dogs with people throughout the northeastern U.S., including:  those with hearing loss, physical disabilities, autism and other developmental disabilities; veterans; and people needing service dogs for classroom, therapy and courthouse facility assistance.  Sarah and Edison will demonstrate some of the many things a service dog can help with, and Sarah will also explain the application, placement and training process involved with obtaining a service dog through NEADS.  This dynamic duo is a “must see” for anyone who has ever wondered if a service dog might be appropriate them or their family.

“Edison has truly changed my life,” says Sarah. “I can’t wait to join the people at Woofgang & Co. this Saturday to share more about my story and how having an assistance dog has helped me become more independent and confident as I interact with the world around me.  I have a disability, but Edison makes me more capable in many ways. I’m very proud of how we work together as a team, and I’m very eager to share this with other people so maybe it can inspire them to consider something like this for their lives.” 

Saturday’s event is another attempt by Woofgang & Co. to provide the community with helpful information on important disability-related subjects.  “We’re working hard to create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to come into our store, interact with our workers and learn more about meaningful issues,” says co-founder Amy Stern.  “This weekend’s event will be both fun and informative.  We all see service animals, and most of us don’t know how to interact with them.  Sarah will tell us how to do so.  Albert’s owner will inform us about the world of disabled animals that needs support and understanding.  Albert and Edison will delight us, of course.  And we’ll have treats for dogs and humans both.  What’s not to like?”

Woofgang & Co. is a “business with a mission.”  Its shop is the retail arm of an exciting non-profit business providing vocational skills and employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities in the Fairfield area. They are working hard to fill an important need in the community.  According to Stern, Woofgang & Co. is seeing success with the store and its production program at Fairfield’s Bigelow Center.  “We are always in need of donations and volunteers,” she says.  ”As a new non-profit, we will not survive without them.”  

Additional information, including how to donate, can be found online at www.woofgangco.org.