It was a day for the dogs at Summers Past Farms on Saturday when about 20 pooches and their accompanying humans made an appearance at the fifth annual Alpine Stagecoach Lions club trick-or-treat dog show.
About 20 dogs competed in the costume competition but the real winner was Guide Dogs for the Blind when they were given a $1,500 donation to assist with their efforts in raising puppies for vision-impaired and blind clients.
Guide Dogs for the Blind has been based out of San Rafael since 1942 but has three chapters in San Diego county. Volunteer Puppy Raiser Pat Salzarulo says that students are able to raise and train the puppies through high school Future Farmers of America programs; she currently has six new puppies being trained by students at San Pasquale high school and four new puppies at Valley Center high school.
After the competition costumed dogs— and their owners— sat at the bistro tables in the center of the rustic café area, some enjoying a cup of coffee from the shop.