a row of yellow lab puppies in yellow puppy capes sitting in a field

First Coast Chapter

Canine Companions
Southeast Region

ABOUT

The First Coast Chapter consists of enthusiastic volunteers, puppy raisers and graduate teams from Jacksonville, Florida area. Our mission is to support Canine Companions through fundraising and community awareness.

DogFest Jacksonville 2022 was an amazing, fun-filled event, with dog agility courses, food trucks, and even a bouncy house for the kids! The event raised more than $97,000 – all going towards the mission of providing expertly trained service dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities, free of charge. Watch the video re-cap, and join us next year.

Our service dogs open up new opportunities and spread incredible joy. By raising funds through DogFest, you support our mission and the people we serve.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

VOLUNTEER WITH THE FIRST COAST CHAPTER

If you’re looking for deeper engagement as a Canine Companions volunteer, we encourage you to get involved with our chapter. The First Coast Chapter is an extension of the Southeast Region, located in Orlando, FL. We work to raise awareness, raise funds, recruit new puppy raisers and volunteers and support one another’s work on behalf of the Canine Companions’ mission.

We are a lively network filled with opportunities for social engagement, from puppy classes to fundraisers. Beyond the satisfaction of doing good work for Canine Companions, lifelong friendships are often formed among chapter members. If you are interested in working with our chapter, contact us. We’d love to meet you!

Click here for more volunteering opportunities.

EVENTS

Events in the Southeast Region

three Canine Companions service dogs wearing DogFest bandana

Find a DogFest in the Southeast Region

Join us for a DogFest in your community!

Click here to read more.

Photo of 2 black service dogs, 2 blonde service dogs in front of the Canine Companions Southeast Region sign

Campus Tours & Presentations

Join us for a tour of the Southeast Region Training Center. Advance reservations are required and some blackout dates apply. And we love to spread the word about our mission.

Click here to read more.

NEWS AND STORIES

dog wearing vest with Jaquars football and hat

Duval, a Future Service Dog in Training, Is a Jacksonville Jaguars Fan

January 23, 2023

As chants of “Duuuval” reverberated around TIAA field, Canine Companions future service dog in training Duval, was suited up and cheering on the team.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

two people sitting with dog wearing a vest

Floranne’s Journey to Become a Service Dog

January 19, 2023

In 2022, News 6 was at the Southeast Region capturing the bittersweet moment for Haley Coomes and her husband, Jamie, as they turned over Floranne’s leash to Canine Companions for professional training.