How Canine Companions volunteers are keeping a loved one's memory alive

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) — DogFest, one of Canine Companions largest fundraising events, is happening this weekend, bringing hundreds to the organization’s campus in New Albany.

For Jackie and Libby Trucco and Ashley Ballard, raising money for DogFest is just one of several ways they honor their loved one, Alissa Trucco, who died nearly nine years ago. Trucco had a strong passion for charity work and a love for dogs, especially her own dog who she affectionately called “Lady G.”

“My little sister, the two things that were really important to her were helping people and dogs. She absolutely loved animals from the day she was born,” said Jackie Trucco.

Jackie and her stepmother, Libby, started raising puppies for Canine Companions in 2017, about a year after Alissa's death. It didn’t take long for Ballard, Alissa's cousin, to jump on the opportunity, too.

Since then, the three have raised eight puppies, with four currently working as professional service dogs. Some of the dogs have been named as a way to remember Alissa, including Ballard’s first puppy, Sly, named after Alissa's horse.

He was turned in for professional training with Canine Companions in May. Ballard is now raising Biscuit, a 16-week-old black lab, named after Alissa's first dog.

Another way they keep Alissa's memory alive is through fundraising. Thanks to social media, homemade dog biscuit sales and Ballard’s work with The Lions Club, they have raised more than $100,000 for Canine Companions, ensuring people with disabilities across the country can be paired with a service dog, for free.

“It’s afforded Alissa’s friends and other family members who loved her just as much as we did, to kind of make donations and make and impact,” said Jackie Trucco. “With DogFest, that’s just been a great opportunity to make even more of an impact and raise more funds than we can do on our own.”

Ballard knows how important that impact is and encourages everyone to donate.

“We figure that each dog has about a $50,000 investment in them by the time they are matched with a client,” she said. “Anything that we can do to bring in more funds certainly helps.”

DogFest is this Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the North Central Training Facility on 7480 New Albany-Condit Road. There will be vendors, food trucks, campus tours and a ribbon cutting for the campus’ fully accessible playground.

According to Emily Bell, Canine Companions’ North Central Executive Director, DogFest is a day to have fun with the whole family.

“You’ll be greeted by pet dogs, service dogs and training graduate dogs and you’ll see a lot of activity for children,” she said. “We only ask that you make sure that you are a responsible dog owner, keeping your dog on leash and only bringing those dogs who are going to interact well with other pet dogs and with our service dogs and service dogs in training. Those dogs are welcome to say hello to each other as long as it’s okay with the volunteer puppy raiser or the individual who has a service dog helping them navigate the world.”

Registration for DogFest is encouraged but not required. You can fill out the form and find more information about the event on canine.org.