Pups Who Help Steal the Show at the Pleasantville Music Fest

It was tough for music lovers browsing vendors at the Pleasantville Music Festival Saturday to pass up the energetic atmosphere surrounding the Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD) booth.

The non-profit organization, which has a training facility at the Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, was out spreading the word about its services and volunteer opportunities.

ECAD was the Festival's charitable partner this year.

"It gives us a lot of exposure," said ECAD Director of Development and Marketing Carrie Picard, who was on-hand Saturday, of the opportunity. "It allows us to explain what ECAD is."

She shared, "ECAD is a nonprofit that educates assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities," citing clients like veterans and people with autism as examples of those who have benefitted from having a service dog.

"We have 225 dogs working now," Picard said.

ECAD breeds its dogs and trains them from very early on to become service dogs.

Once they complete their training, the dogs have a "graduation," Picard said.

The Music Festival appearance gave ECAD staffers the chance to share information about volunteer opportunities.

The organization's "Home for the Weekend" program allows locals to bring home dogs to teach them "house manners" and socialize them, according to its website. Other volunteers help with vocational programs or spread the word about ECAD's work at events like the festival.

To find out more about ECAD's volunteer opportunities, clickhere.