DogFest North Central
Join us for family-friendly and dog-friendly DogFest events in the North Central Region!
Kentucky Volunteer Chapter
Canine Companions
North Central Region
ABOUT
Founded in 2024, the Kentucky Volunteer Chapter of Canine Companions is made up of puppy raisers, graduates, and volunteers who have a passion for seeing exceptional service dogs go to exceptional people! Chapter members live throughout the state of Kentucky. With our chapter hub in Louisville, we also welcome participants from surrounding states, like southern Indiana. Our team of volunteer chapter leaders coordinate chapter meetings, fundraisers, and outreach events. We are a friendly group who loves helping and encouraging each other in all things. If you are new our chapter we would love to welcome you to the Kentucky Canine Companions family!
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VOLUNTEER WITH THE KENTUCKY VOLUNTEER CHAPTER
If you’re looking for deeper engagement as a Canine Companions volunteer, we encourage you to get involved with our chapter. The Kentucky Volunteer Chapter is an extension of the North Central Regional Training Center in New Albany, OH. We work to spread the word about Canine Companions, recruit new possible clients, volunteers, puppy raisers, and supporters, and we lift up one another’s work on behalf of the Canine Companions’ mission. If you are interested in working with our chapter, contact us. We’d love to meet you!
REGIONAL EVENTS
Boys and Girls Scouts Presentation – Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. EST at Covenant Church LaGrange, 909 W. Jefferson St., LaGrange, KY
Join volunteers to present an overview of Canine Companions to 70 scouts.
VFW Auxiliary Spring Conference – Saturday, March 15
Join volunteers to speak at the conference and provide an overview of Canine Companions.
FFA (Future Farmers of America) Presentation – Monday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m. EST at Bullitt Central High School, 330 KY-44, Shepherdsville, KY
Join volunteers who are partnering with Bullitt Central High School to introduce students to Canine Companions and share about the role of a puppy raiser.
Possibilities Expo – Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. CST in Bowling Green, KY
Join volunteers who will work at a table in the Expo to share information about the work of Canine Companions.
Racing Louisville FC Women’s Soccer Game – Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m. EST
Volunteers will be present at the Racing Louisville FC game to share about Canine Companions with women’s soccer fans. Join us at our table and tent located near the Fan Zone and Model Bar.
Paws and Pals at the Kentucky Science Center – Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. EST
Join our chapter in partnership with the Kentucky Science Center to share about Canine Companions with guests.
Wine & Canines – June 7, 2025 from 2-5 p.m. EST at 19816 Huber Road, Borden, IN 47106
Join the Kentucky Volunteer Chapter for its third annual fundraiser at Huber Winery. Enjoy food and wine, play games and have your face painted, bid on exciting auction items and enjoy the company of dogs!
Churchill Downs – Saturday, June 28 at noon EST
The Kentucky Volunteer Chapter will host a social at Churchill Downs with a full day of racing, lunch and loads of fun on Millionaire’s Row.
Louisville FC Men’s Soccer Game – Saturday, October 4 at 7 p.m. EST
Volunteers will be present at the Louisville FC game to share about Canine Companions with men’s soccer fans. Join us at our table and tent located near the Fun Zone and Model Bar.
EVENTS
Events in the North Central Region
Independence is Golden North Central
Join us for our 50th anniversary gala supporting Canine Companions under the sparkling lights of the North Central campus.
CHAPTER LEADERSHIP
Karen Hodge – Community Outreach, Events and Puppy Raising
Karen joined Canine Companions in 2021 as a first-time puppy raiser and has worked as one of the chapter co-leaders since the Kentucky Volunteer Chapter was created in January 2024. Beethoven, one of the puppies raised by Karen, is now a Canine Companions Therapy Dog. Throughout 2025, Karen hopes to continue to participate in outreach and see the number of puppy raisers in Kentucky grow.
Tammy Harrod – Community Outreach and Events
Tammy established the Kentucky Volunteer Chapter to share the transformative impact that her service dog, Gage, and second service dog, Violet, have had on her life. Her mission is to spread awareness of the incredible work of Canine Companions and support its mission through fundraising and community outreach. As a volunteer leader, she is dedicated to organizing events and initiatives to showcase the profound difference service dogs can make in the lives of people with disabilities.
Lily Swanson – VolunteerHub Coordinator
Lily started puppy raising in March of 2020 for Canine Companions while she was a college student at the University of Pittsburgh. Lily has seen the incredible impact service dogs provide to their partners through the puppies she has raised. She said she feels privileged to be part of Canine Companions and involved with the organization’s mission.
Mia Downs – Volunteer Leader of Accounting
Mia has seen firsthand how service dogs enhance the lives of people with disabilities. This experience led her to become volunteer leaders with the Kentucky Volunteer Chapter. She volunteers with outreach as well as accounting duties for the chapter.
Whitney Morris – Communications Manager
Whitney began volunteering with Canine Companions to support the organization’s mission of providing highly trained service dogs to individuals at no cost to them. She has seen firsthand how a service dog can provide independence to people with disabilities. She uses her skills in marketing and communications to help the chapter create its newsletter and initiate marketing efforts. She also teaches yoga, loves traveling and has two dogs, Duke and Evie.
Jim Warner – Social Media Leader
As a lifetime wheelchair user, Jim became involved with Canine Companions when he graduated in 2017 with Service Dog Maurice. In 2024, he was proud to become one of the founding leadership team members for the Kentucky Volunteer Chapter. He serves as the chapter’s social media leader and assists with any and all IT needs.
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