Santee’s Fido Fest 2017 benefits Dogs on Deployment

Tattooed dogs were common at Santee’s 2nd annual Fido Fest held June 10 at Santee’s Town Center Community Park East. Available at a booth, the fake, temporary tattoos used a water-based paint and were just part of the offerings for dogs. Free dog food samples and snacks were abundant from the vendors as well. Dog owners participated in a multitude of events of the day.

Tattooed dogs were common at Santee’s 2nd annual Fido Fest held June 10 at Santee’s Town Center Community Park East. Available at a booth, the fake, temporary tattoos used a water-based paint and were just part of the offerings for dogs. Free dog food samples and snacks were abundant from the vendors as well. Dog owners participated in a multitude of events of the day.

“This is our second annual Fido Fest. We have an estimated 2,000 attendees and 79 vendors,” said Bree Humphrey, Special Events Supervisor, with the City of Santee. Humphrey is the one that coined the name Fido Fest for the event. “We have arts, crafts, face painting, 12 adoption agencies, demonstrations, and contests. Plus, much more.”

One event was the cake walk for owners and their dogs. The cake prize was a “pupcake” courtesy of Santee’s The Cupcake Store. Patti Read, winner of the first cake walk with her dog, Jazzy, was attending her first Fido Fest and won the musical stop/go event monitored by DJ Eddie Vandiver, president of ENV Productions, Inc. Gage Sanderson won the second cake walk event.

County of San Diego Sheriff Deputy A. Elmore and Deputy R. Fischer brought their European-born dogs, Banjar and Magic, to do a demonstration of how their dogs aid in apprehension of a suspect. In between presentations from Dogs on Deployment or demo by guide dogs for the blind and contests as attendees weaved their way around the vendor booths.

Graceful Departure Pet Center, offers hospice and euthanasia appointments, as well as eco-friendly aftercare.  Brittney Stoddard and Ashlie Miller answered questions about urns, bamboo scatter tubes and more. The El Cajon based center claims to be San Diego’s first green, eco-friendly pet burial service.

Veterinarian, Dr. Lily Mesa, owner of Mesa Mobile Veterinary Services said, “We use herbal medicines like arnica and coptis on pets.” It is a mobile service that is a full-service company, convenient for the disabled and home bound that covers vaccinations to pet euthanasia.

Jeff Gnann, with TNT Entertainment, manned the Kissing Photo Booth said the stuffed pillow poop emoji was popular with the owners when having their pictures taken with their pets.

Rich Setzer and family manned the Dogs on Deployment booth. The program was designed by a Santee couple, Alisa and Shawn Johnson.

“We have helped over 1,100 service members with boarding.  We also have raised $350,000 to help with pet related services and emergencies,” said Setzer.

Contests for smallest dog had a number of entrants with a three-legged Chihuahua named Tipsy going up against other pint-sized dogs. Cora took home the trophy. The best trick award went to Saturn, a pit bull, who was led though a follow and obey routine by El Cajon resident, Ace Saunders. Largest dog contest winner was a Great Dane named Copper, who’s owner Chris Jimenez, said, “I toned them (he had two dogs) down with a walk earlier” as a technique that contributed to Copper’s quiet stage presence.

Tara Harris, who quipped that her dog Harley had dual citizenship because she was born in Mexico and adopted out of St. Paco’s Second Chance Rescue in San Diego was just one of the attendees who have already adopted rescue dogs or were considering it at event vendors like San Diego Spaniel Rescue.

Camp Bow Wow, Dogs on Deployment and Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning partnered with the City of Santee to bring Fido Fest, which offered almost everything relating to dogs, as well as ended with an opportunity drawing with prizes like a Bad Hombre Guitar and a package from Omni La Costa Golf among other raffle gifts.