The public is invited to meet adorable future service dogs in training and recent grads from the Gold Rush Chapter of Canine Companions in Sacramento at a “Santa Paws” event from 11 a.m. to 2 pm. Dec. 6 at Miller’s Ace Hardware, 8077 Madison Ave.. Photo courtesy of Miller’s Ace Hardware

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Jessica Rowell-Greenfield, owner and operator of Miller’s Ace Hardware in Citrus Heights, is excited to share that “Santa Paws” is coming to town.

The public is invited to meet adorable future service dogs in training and recent grads from the Gold Rush Chapter of Canine Companions in Sacramento during a “Santa Paws” event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at the store on 8077 Madison Ave., across from the Fair Oaks Library.

"Santa Paws is a holiday event that helps to brings the community together,” said Rowell-Greenfield.

“We’ll have pictures with Santa, courtesy of ‘I Love Fair Oaks,’ a hot cocoa bar and a picture coloring station,” she said.

Shoppers will be to able learn about the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence, which helps provide service dogs to adults, children and veterans so they can live with greater independence. Since its founding in 1975, the Canine Companions for Independence organization has provided more than 7,700 highly-trained service dogs at no charge to the recipient.

Saturday’s event is free but donations are welcome to benefit the Gold Rush Chapter of Canine Companions, according to Rowell-Greenfield.

Miller’s Ace Hardware, which employs adults and youth with cognitive disabilities, is named after Rowell-Greenfield’s son, Miller, who has faced and overcome multiple neurological challenges to become a thriving young adult. He was also a Make-A-Wish recipient as a young child.

Miller was also matched with his own Canine Companions service dog, Bahama, in 2019 after a seven-month pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay, Rowell-Greenfield said.

The family event is inspired by the four-legged star of the Disney film “Santa Paws,” a white Great Pyrenees dog who helps a young character to believe in Christmas.

“The Gold Rush Chapter has been using our store as a training facility for their future Service Dogs since we first opened two years ago,” Rowell-Greenfield said.

Canine Companions provides service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings. Since Canine Companions for Independence was founded in 1975, its dogs and all follow-up services are provided at no cost to its clients.  

“Miller’s dog, Bahama, had an incredible impact on his life, attending doctor’s visits and staying with him before and after surgeries and during procedures. She has also participated in his physical and occupational therapy and helped with physical tasks such as picking things up during his long recovery,” Rowell-Greenfield said. “We want to do all we can to ensure that the incredible local volunteers that train and raise the Future Service Dogs have the financial support their program requires.”

“While enjoying the holiday fun, participants can meet and learn about these amazing future service dogs and the important impact they have on their recipients,” Rowell-Greenfield added. “And they’re also incredibly cute in their holiday attire.”

Rowell-Greenfield also expressed pride in the continued generosity of her many customers who have rounded up their purchases in support of Make A Wish during the past year and who last month helped to raise more than $3,500 for Special Olympics of Northern California, enabling the participation of seven Special Olympic athletes, including uniforms, for an entire year.

Last spring, Miller’s Ace Hardware was an event sponsor and supporter of the 2025 multi-community “Big Day of Service” volunteer event held in Citrus Heights, Orangevale and Fair Oaks.

Store hours for Miller’s Ace Hardware are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

For more information about the upcoming Santa Paws event, email [email protected], visit millersaceistheplace.com or call 916-760-8110.