Alpha Bravo Canine Seeks More 'Magic' With Bucks Co. Fundraiser

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The date has changed, but the mission remains the same.

After three years in April, the fourth annual Strolling for Service Dogs event has moved to September this year — and will be held on Saturday. September is National Service Dog Month.

For Sara Christopher and Tracy Ruepp, the mission is to raise enough funds to provide two dogs to U.S. veterans through Alpha Bravo Canine.

"It really is a lot of work, but we really outdid ourselves this year," Christopher told Patch last week. "We've always been about paying it forward."

Ruepp said she sees firsthand the need in the veterans community for therapy and how the service dogs really make a difference.

"When veterans get paired with dogs, something magical happens," she said.

This year's event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial Park, 1950 Woodside Rd., Lower Makefield Township.

The cost is $25, with the first 200 people registered getting a swag bag. Children 10 and under are free.

Christopher and Ruepp expect about 500 people to attend the event.

Click here to register for the event

The fundraiser is for Alpha Bravo Canine, a non-profit organization that teams service dogs with U.S. veterans suffering from debilitating medical and psychological problems as a result of their active combat duty.

The organization raises, trains, and donates service dogs to disabled veterans with PTSD, TBI, and other combat-related disabilities.

This is the fifth year overall that Christopher's son Nick raised awareness as "The Birthday Lawn Bandit."

Christopher said the organization held the event last year that raised $30,000 for the service dogs and has generated over $150,000 since its inception.

Costs can be between $20,000 and $25,000 for one dog that needs to be trained and have its medical bills paid. The organization brings in puppies —they are all Labradors —that are eight weeks old.

The organization, founded in 2015, has placed 13 puppies with veterans and has another five in training.

The dogs are named after fallen veterans and are donated to veterans with all costs (food, treats, etc.) covered for the first year.

The first dog walk generated about $18,000 in donations and about 150 participants.

Ruepp said the organization is temporarily housed in Langhorne after a rent increase forced the group out of Newtown Township. She said Alpha Bravo Canine is seeking a permanent location.

Registration Perks

Swag bags include a T-shirt and a dog bandana (guaranteed for first 200 sign-ups), and sponsor giveaways. New this year are hidden surprises for gift cards to local restaurants and shops for those who pre-register.

Food & Fun

• Kono Pizza, Goodnoe Farm, Playa Bowls, Raising Cane’s, Regal Cinema Popcorn, Pretty Bird Coffee, specialty desserts, and more.
• Kids’ activities, Caricatures by Kaman’s, and plenty of vendors. Raffles called at 3 p.m. Balloon arches and décor by Loteba and Proper13 Productions.
• No dog? No problem! We’ll even give you a stuffed pooch to walk with from our stuffed dog pound.
• Raffle tickets available before the event — You do not have to be present to win. Winners will be contacted and also announced on social media. Raffles retail from $175 to over $2,000. There is a Romantic Ritz Carlton Getaway as well as a 65” TV donated by The Kim Rock Group and Cruiser Bicycle retailing over $700.

Anyone with questions should contact organizer Sara Christopher at 732-991-1490 or by sending an email to servicedogs@alphabravocanine.org.

The students involved in the project this year are:

• Nicole Ruepp
• Jake Ruepp
• Ben Ruepp
• Nicky Christopher
• Girl Scout Troop 21648
• Jet Perras
• Slater Perras
• Rune Perras
• Katie Miles
• Sarah Marthaler
• Lucia Betman
• Alexis Reed
• Mason Hausner

Students volunteering from Nazareth Academy High School are:

• Audrey Ionescu
• Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wikoff
• Emily Dao
• Emily Makuch
• Emily Wicker
• Jessica Phan
• Michelah Hoffman
• Adrianna Brown
• Samantha Vernon
• Maja Urban
• Emily McCollum

Adult volunteers are:

• Kim Smith
• Grant Smith
• Betty Crist
• Susan Perras
• Steve Perras
• Beth Holt
• Melissa Santarelli
• Emily Janda
• Lise Churna
• Lydia Campion
• Nicole Longo
• Adam Christopher
• Rich Wayne

The service dogs are:

• Stryker (Our Ambassador)
• Katie (In Training)
• Devin (In Training)

The puppy raisers are:

• Betty Crist
• The Smith Family
• The Perras Family

Sponsors this year include:

• Tail Waggers Academy (Platinum/Event Sponsor)
• Fearless Restaurants — White Dog Cafe (Platinum/Event Sponsor)
• Sycamore Veterinary Hospital in Newtown (Gold Sponsor)
• Barney Murphy Inc. Plumbing (Bronze/Water)
• Big Oak Citgo (Bronze/Water)
• Buck County Fencing Academy (Bronze/Water)
• Glo Derma Aesthetics & Wellness (Bronze/Water)
• Homestead Wildlife Control (Bronze/Water)
• Jamie Fazzalore, Realtor Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (Bronze/Water)
• Kono Pizza (Bronze/Water)
• Panna Gelateria & Bakery (Bronze/Water)
• Pizza Yeah (Bronze/Water)
• Pure Eco-wellness & Spa (Bronze/Water)
• Stu's EZ Auto Remotes (Bronze/Water)
• Team Toyota (Bronze/Water)
• Threads by Taylor (Bronze/Water & Vendor)
• Carluccis (Gold)
• Fields Printwear (Gold)
• The Kim Rock Group (Gold)
• Angels on a Leash (Silver)
• Firehouse Cycles (Silver)
• Michael's jewelers (Silver)
• Modern (Silver)

Vendors include:

• Abbey's Bakery
• From the Ground Up Woodworking
• Goodnoes Farm Dairy Bar
• My Pet and Dog Bakery
• Pretty Bird/Vault
• Raising Cane's
• St. John's Lutheran
• Susan Samhammer Crochet
• Kaman's Art (Caricature)
• Loteba Queens Decor