Chandra and Howie were amazingly well-behaved puppies at the Service Dog Event at Sacramento State last Thursday. Even as people walked by to pet them, the dogs remained calm and collected a trait unusual for two puppies who were only a year old.

Chandra, a golden retriever, and Howie, a black Labrador and golden retriever mix, are being trained as service dogs.

The Service Dog Event, sponsored by the Disabled Student Union, featured five service dog groups from the area. The groups included San Francisco SPCA, Canine Companions for Independence, Discovery Dogs, K-9 Crossroads and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Visitors in the Redwood Room were able to learn information about the different types of service dogs, as well as see short demonstrations and participate in discussions and a question and answer time. There was also free candy available and a raffle, which included a basic puppy training program valued at $160.

&Overall, I think the event turned out good for a first time,& said DSU President Jennifer Cole. &People came in to see what was going on. It was the dogs that caused them to come in here.&

The dogs were a popular attraction. Cole said at least 15 service dogs came to the event with their trainers, and they were quite a hit with the young pre-school classes who arrived throughout the day.

Laura Allen, who is training Chandra, is a Sac State student. Chandra is the third dog she has trained. She said she often attends different events for service dogs. The events, she said, allow people to better understand the dogs and bring more awareness to the program.

&They&re smart dogs,& she said. &The people who we are with are fun. My last dog I raised graduated and is now with a 7-year-old boy.&

Meanwhile, Howie&s owner, Beverly Pimentel, has trained four dogs. Pimentel, who was once a full-time physical therapist, said training the dogs is an extension of her job.

&Once I was not working full-time 8211; this is something I wanted to do,& she said. &I&m training a dog to be with someone who has a physical disability. It&s an extension of rehab.&

Pimentel said that in addition to dog events, such as the one at Sac State, she and her dogs have also visited schools, nursing facilities and hospitals. She said she works to interact with the public and build awareness of service dogs.

&I believe in it,& she said. &The mission is something I can support, and raising exceptional dogs for exceptional people is something I had to be a part of.&

Cole said one focus of the event was disability awareness. She noticed a stigma in the society when it comes to disability awareness that she and the group hope to change.

&It&s important to say it&s OK to be unique and it is OK to be different,& Cole said. &A lot of people don&t understand what it&s like to be disabled. Getting involved with training a dog gives them more understanding.&

Cole, who is hard of hearing, said she may consider a hearing service dog later on. She said the dog would help her be more independent.

&It made me feel good knowing I got people interested,& Cole said. &That was the first purpose of our event.&