SANDPOINT — The Inland Northwest Chapter of Canine Companions for Independence is preparing to “Raise the Woof” once again.

“Raise the Woof” is a silent auction of custom-designed dog houses leading up to the organization’s big DogFest event in June, a day filled with K9 games, contests, vendor booths, activities, food and more.

“Last year was our inaugural year and we were very pleased,” said Lilly Mitsui with the local chapter of Canine Companions. “We set a goal of $15,000 and we raised over $20,000. Our community is so giving — I had wonderful support last year from the community.”

There are 19 DogFest events across the country, she said, though this is the only one in the Northwest. All proceeds go to Canine Companions, a nationwide nonprofit organization founded in 1975. Since then, more than 6,000 highly skilled assistance dogs have been placed — free of charge — to individuals with disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, stroke victims, spinal cord injuries, autism, hearing impaired and many more, with the exception of blindness, as Guide Dogs for the Blind provides that service. Canine Companions breeds, raises and trains golden retrievers, labrador retriever or a cross of the two to perform all sorts of tasks for their handlers. When their training is complete, the dogs are valued at $50,000.

Mitsui, a long-time puppy raiser for Canine Companions, brought awareness of the organization to the area after moving to Sagle from Seattle, implementing the Inland Northwest Chapter over the past couple years for Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The local chapter is now up to 40 members. Last year’s DogFest was the first of its kind in the area, and Mitsui said she is looking forward to this year’s ”Give a Dog a Job” DogFest event.

“It’s open to the public and it is just a fun and crazy day for K9 contests and games and food and music,” she said. “We expect we will probably double our turnout this year.”

In addition to the games and other activities planned for the event, there will be 20 to 25 vendor booths, and people will have the opportunity to meet some of the pups in training and hear heartwarming stories from graduates about the value of their dogs, Mitsui said.

Sponsorships are going well, she said, and she also hopes to get more dog houses for the “Raise the Woof” auction this year. Last year, two dog houses were designed, built and donated by Idagon Homes, Selle Valley Construction and Boden Mountain Architecture. This year, Mitsui said they hope to get three to five decorative houses for the auction.

“I am looking for builders, woodworkers, anybody who likes to do some creative woodworking, because the cuter it is the more attention it gets as far as people bidding on it,” Mitsui said.

The dog houses will be displayed in the Columbia Bank Building from May 21 through June 21. They will then be transferred to Forrest Bird Charter School the day of the DogFest event, June 22, for final bidding and announcement of the winning bids at noon. Those who donate the dog houses will be made honorary sponsors of the event. There are plenty of other sponsorship opportunities available as well for businesses, organizations or clubs interested in sponsoring the event, Mitsui said. Any group can form a team prior to the event to raise money and help support the Inland Northwest Chapter of Canine Companions, she said.

“We have families that have applied for dogs within our community who are on the waiting list,” Mitsui said.”So every dollar we raise, and every puppy we raise, helps take someone off the list.”

To donate a dog house, learn about Sponsorships or donate individually, contact Lilly Mitsui at [email protected] or 208-304-4490. For information about Canine Companions for Independence, puppy raising or applying for an assistance dog, go to cci.org. To form a team to help raise funds for DogFest, go to cci.org/dogfestnorthidaho.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.