A dog-friendly 5K and festival returns to Encinitas on Saturday, Nov. 7, when Shelter to Soldier holds its third annual Salute to Paws at Fox Point Farms.

The Oceanside-based nonprofit rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service animals for post-9/11 veterans. The fundraiser takes over Fox Point Farms, 1200 Fox Point Farms Lane, with a morning run and walk followed by a three-hour festival, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Leashed, social dogs can run alongside their owners, with water and shade stations on the course.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. An all-levels yoga session starts at 8:45 a.m.

The 5K begins at 9:30 a.m. The Gratitude Festival for Dogs runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features live music, farm-fresh pizza, street-style tacos, a silent auction and local vendors.

Tickets

Adult 5K registration costs $50. Children 12 and under pay $25. Adding a dog to a 5K entry is $10. A festival-only ticket, without the 5K, is $25. A $50 VIP add-on opens the Paw Party lounge area with small bites, drinks for humans, broth for dogs and a VIP gift. Tickets are available at sheltertosoldier.org.

About Shelter to Soldier

Graham Bloem, co-founder and president of Shelter to Soldier, co-founded the organization in 2012 with a focus on the bond between veterans and dogs. The nonprofit's flagship Psychiatric Service Dog Program pairs trained rescue dogs with post-9/11 veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma, according to the organization's website. Each dog's training lasts 12 to 18 months, covering medical care, housing and handler work with the veteran.

The event is presented by Avion Law, with additional sponsorship from Sycuan Casino Resort, UNITE Hair and Furvor Field.

Last year's Salute to Paws raised roughly $55,200 toward a $75,000 goal, according to the event's GoFundMe page.

Upcoming Encinitas events

Saturday, Nov. 7, is a packed day in town. Exposure Skate's annual women's skateboarding competition runs Nov. 6–8 at Encinitas Community Park, free to attend. The Salute to Paws takes place the same weekend at the separate Fox Point Farms venue.