"Sparky" Schultz Museum and Canine Companions for Independence

We started the day with a delicious and filling breakfast buffet at the Warm Puppy Cafe in the Puppy Palace, both developed by Charles Schultz of Charlie Brown/Snoopy fame.

After breakfast we walked across the street where we were greeted by Charlie Brown at the front of the Schultz Museum.

We viewed a giant, hand carved mural representing the 50-year evolution of Snoopy.

Then we saw a giant mosaic mural made from small tiles of 4-framed comic strips; Charlie Brown still could not kick the ball Lucie was holding!


Outdoors were figures of numerous characters and themes.

We bid farewell to our cartoon characters and headed to the Canine Companions for Independence training facility.

Interestingly enough, we found Snoopy again.  The land for the facility had been donated by "Sparky" Schultz.  The facility receives about 900 puppies per year to supervise the raising and training of assistance dogs.

About 300 dogs per year "graduate" to become assistance dogs at about the age of two.  They can then serve for 5-7 years providing physical and emotional help to their new owners.  The dog recipients get the dogs at no charge, even though it costs about $20,000 to raise and train them.  Fortunately there are many volunteers involved in the process, otherwise the cost would be much more.

After our busy day, we enjoyed an anniversary and birthday celebrations in the campground.