Chester Dog Fair

04/13/2026

It's that time of year! We are starting to get ready for our 2026 event and are currently accepting applications for vendors.

Please fill out this for a registration form for our Chester Dog Fair September 19th and 20th 2026. We will send invoices for the fees once registration is complete. You will be able to pay online or send in payment via mail. ** please note if you are receiving this link in an email you had signed u...

09/16/2025

Did you make it to the Chester Dog Fair? We hope you had as much fun as we did hosting it.

We had one of our great volunteers taking photos throughout both days and would love to share them with you along with a special announcement.

A couple of items at our Silent Auction were not bid on so we wanted to give everyone who came and even those who couldn't come a chance to check out what our amazing vendors donated and what is still available.

If you have a Photogenic dog check out Item #1 - A dog that needs to run to get rid of some of that excess energy, well Items 2 and 3 might be just what you need. Small dogs or Large dogs we have you covered in our 4th and 5th Items.

Check them out and remember all funds are going to help fund our Spay It Forward Program along with supporting the rescues we support financially throughout the year.

Thank you so much for joining us this year and be sure to come next year!

Oh yeah we already have the date set.. September 19th & 20th 2026

Thank you for checking out our Silent Auction. These items were available at our Chester Dog Fair but had not received opening bids. We are very grateful for the amazing donations received by our vendors so are hoping to be able to auction them off online. Once your bid is placed online you will be....

08/15/2025

08/13/2025

We need help for our Chester Dog Fair!

Saturday and Sunday - September 13th & 14th

What does it entail?

Playing with dogs, petting dogs, filling water bowls for dogs, teaching dogs new tricks, hmm tough day huh?

Did I mention you get a cool Tshirt?

Please consider giving us some of your time and helping us make this a great day for all!

Register to volunteer today!

https://forms.gle/EVvFPt6Lhn7qBN6YA

08/04/2025

Do you know how many volunteers it takes to put our Chester Dog Fair on? A LOT! Truly we need a lot of people to help with all the fun the dogs and their owners are going to have.

Please consider giving us a day of your time and have the best day every petting dogs, kissing dogs, watching them play, not to mention the music, food and amazing vendors.

Please sign up today.

This event is our primary fundraiser and allows us to sponsor our semi-annual adoption events. Please know how much we appreciate your time and commitment to make this event a success!

07/30/2025

Chester Dog Fair is Coming!

We have got a lot planned but need our amazing volunteers to help us for the event.

Now who wouldn't want to spend the day playing with dogs, listening to amazing music and having some great food?

Please consider joining us for our biggest fundraiser of the year.

This event is our primary fundraiser and allows us to sponsor our semi-annual adoption events. Please know how much we appreciate your time and commitment to make this event a success!

05/25/2025

05/21/2025

We are starting getting our 11th year rolling. So many of our past vendors have already signed up. If you are interested in joining our fair please visit our website for information.

https://www.homewardboundct.org/2025-chester-dog-fair/

Unfortunately the amazing Lois from Wagz & Wigglez is not available this year for nail clippings. If any other mobile groomers are interested in joining the fair and offering nail clippings we'll happily waive the registration fee. In the past Wagz & Wigglez has donated their fees to Homeward Bound CT.

SAVE THE DATE 9/13 AND 9/14/2025

10/31/2024

A few things to think of as we head into Halloween:

🔶 IF YOU HAVE AN ANXIOUS DOG: We strongly recommend confining your dog to their own safe haven for the evening (like a crate in a separate room). It can help calm their nerves and prevent them from running out the constantly opening front door.

🔶 CONSIDER LEAVING THEM HOME: Strange clothes and masks can be very frightening to any dog, let alone an anxious one, be sure your dog is wearing identification tags with your contact info in case they get loose.

🔶 KEEP CANDY OUT OF REACH: We all know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, consumption of even small amounts can cause seizures, muscle tremors and vomiting, while larger doses can be fatal. Hard and gummy candies can be choking hazards, as well as the packaging they come in, and many sugar substitutes are lethal to dogs.

We wish you all a safe and happy Halloween!

10/05/2024

Our October event focuses on CT based rescues and shelters! Come meet dogs from CT Animal House, Essex Animal Control, National Great Pyrenees Rescue, One More Dog Rescue, Valley Shore Animal Welfare League, Willimantic Animal Control, and more!