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6th Annual Service Dog Scrimmage Crowns “Irish” the Ultimate Champion in Life Changing Event

    Last Saturday, the John Bryan Community Center in Yellow Springs transformed into a field of furry excitement as 4 Paws for Ability hosted our 6th annual Service Dog Scrimmage. This year’s event was packed with puppy touchdowns, wagging tails, and a whole lot of heart. Sponsored by the Reynolds & Reynolds Associate Foundation, who previously sponsored in 2023 too, this unforgettable day brought together dog lovers, supporters, and some of the most adorable future service dogs you’ve ever seen.

    The real MVPs? The Coffee Club litter! A litter of ten golden retriever newfoundland mix puppies who absolutely stole the show! These chunky, determined athletes dashed, tumbled, and sprinted their way through four thrilling games, competing for touchdowns in the cutest way possible as they raced to the end zone. Each fluffy competitor tackled the task with ease in one of their many tests on the path to becoming a truly life-saving service dog one day.

    While the stars of the show were the puppies, the heartbeat of the event was the 4 Paws community. With over 200 in attendance, at our new, larger venue, our fans cheered on their favorite pups, while investing their time, energy, and even donations to our mission. 

    This year we raised over $27,000 – the most ever raised at our Service Dog Scrimmage!

    But the excitement didn’t stop there. We brought back our fan-favorite, Service Dog Skills Halftime Show: a heartwarming halftime show presentation featuring three of our service dog teams. This included Dani & Hendrix, Sophia & Stoutland, and Doug & Alfie who all showcased their favorite skills in their own unique way.

    Of course, every great game needs an MVP, and this year one pup stood paw & nose above the rest: Irish!

    Irish not only won the most games… he won them all! A special shoutout to his winning sponsors: L&W Supply, The Traylor Family, Happy Birthday Mary Lou, and Freckles’ Mom!

    As we celebrate another paws-itively amazing Service Dog Scrimmage, we are reminded of the power of coming together for a greater cause. The funds raised will directly support the training and placement of service dogs, giving individuals with disabilities greater independence, confidence, and companionship.

    A huge THANK YOU to our event sponsor, the Reynolds & Reynolds Associate Foundation.

    Special thanks as well to all of our puppy player sponsors: The 4 Paws Board of Directors, An Anonymous Supporter of 4 Paws, Happy Birthday Margaret, K9s at the Ville, L&W Supply, PSA Airlines, 4 Paws for Ability at UC, 4 Paws for Ability at UD, University of Findlay 4 Paws for Ability, 4 Paws for Ability at UIUC, 4 Dogs for 4 Paws, the Davis Family, Gravity Spa, Happy Birthday Steve, In Honor of Liljana, In Honor of Mufasa & Popcorn, In Honor of Wu, the Traylor Family, the Weiss Family, BarkstrongInc., Danis, Dayton Children’s Hospital, DTB Distributors, Inc., Forget Me Not Farm, Happy Birthday Mary Lou, In Honor of Henry Slutz, the John Bryan Community Center, Val & Matt, the Village of Yellow Springs & YSPD, Forward Thinking Consulting, Freckles’ Mom, Gilman Partners, Happy Birthday Becky, the McClanahan Family, OPSPro, Senna & the 2023 Manatee Class, Thomas Rod Shop, and United Building Materials.

    Watch the full replay of the 2025 Service Dog Scrimmage