2022 convention pictures

This page contains pictures of our 2022 convention in Long Beach, California. The pictures are divided into sections based on the activity, and all pictures have alt-text.

Starting out

Join us as we get started on our convention adventure! We started with pandemic safety measures and a puppy shower for an expecting community member. Many volunteers helped set up the tables, which included lots of goodies for the attendees!

a man takes a COVID test while seated at a table on a patio.
2 smiling women sit at a table with presents on it on a patio, with 2 men watching in the background.
a view of the top of a hotel showing the name "Courtyard By Marriott".
a long table with a green tablecloth and a banner reading "2022 convention" holds a variety of merchandise.
4 people congregating near a merchandise table, 1 of which is a man selecting items for his grab bag.
a closeup of a merchandise table showing a number of service dog buttons and yellow ribbon with text not clearly visible
a sitting woman with 2 japanese chin on her lap observes people nearby outside the photo

Meeting room sessions

The meeting room was a large open space where people could spread out and relax with their dogs. We had several circle discussions where everyone participated and shared their experiences and thoughts about particular service dog topics.

4 people sit in chairs, 1 with an australian shepherd next to them, and another person sits on the ground during a discussion.
a min pin sits on the seat of a wheelchair while a seated woman leans toward it.
a seated woman with a golden retriever laying next to her gestures as she speaks, while a woman next to a wheelchair listens.
a woman sitting on the ground with a japanese chin in her lap and another japanese chin in front of her speaks while a woman sitting on a chair in the background with a golden retriever next to her listens.
a woman wearing a mask and a purple shirt sits in a chair.
a seated woman wearing a black mask and purple shirt gestures with her hands while speaking.
a woman holds the leash of a labradoodle that has walked into the lap of a person sitting on the floor.
a white, brown and tan australian shepherd relaxes on the ground with a leash that has a slider saying "please give space".
a woman kneels on the ground and is nose to nose with a sitting Papillon
a standing woman holds the leash of a min pin while wearing a hands-free leash for a golden retriever that is getting petting from a seated man.
a black and tan min pin wearing a blue bow-tie and a serivce dog vest reading "trained medical alert K9, do not distract".
a person sitting on the ground near a walker with an austrailian shepherd sitting in their lap.
a woman sits in a wheelchair with her leg elevated on a chair in front of her while wearing a hands-free leash for the labradoodle relaxing on the ground next to her.
a woman sits on the ground near a wheelchair with 2 japanese chin in front of her while a man sits on a chair in the background.
a japanese chin stands facing its handler who is sitting on the ground.
2 women sit in chairs side by side, 1 holding a min pin, other other petting a golden retriever at her feet.
a woman sits on the ground with a japanese chin in her lap, and another laying nearby.
a tired looking golden lays on the ground while wearing a "medical assistance dog" vest.
a tired min pin rests its head on its handler's shoulder.
a person sits on the ground with their australian shepherd's head in their lap.
a woman sits on the ground and leans over her labradoodle.
a sitting woman holds a plushie while looking toward 2 women, 1 of whom is holding 2 japanese chin.
5 service dog teams (including an australian shepherd, a labradoodle, a min pin, a golden retriever, and 2 japanese chin) sit as part of a large circle.

Portraits

Some of our attendees posed for a group photo, while others took more intimate (and fun!) portraits during social hour.

a group photo of 9 humans and 6 dogs (1 labradoodle, 2 japanese chin, 1 australian shepard, 1 golden retriever, and 1 Min Pin in front of a black background.
a man in colorful clothing and a reclined wheelchair strikes a dramatic pose in front of a black backdrop.
a woman in a green shirt takes a photo of a man in a blue shirt standing in front of a black backdrop.
a woman strikes a pose while holding a japanese chin in each arm.
a woman stands in front of a black background holding a Min Pin
a woman and black labradoodle pose under a banner for Psychiatric Service Dog Partners.
a golden retriever jumps in excitement toward the upraised arms of its handler.

Out and about together

A big part of our conventions involve walking around town to go to restaurants and shops, and eating together (which was all outside this year for pandemic safety).

a woman with grey hair pets a golden retriever on a leash held by its handler.
3 service dog teams (an Australian Shepherd, Golden, and Papillon) and 2 people without service dogs walk through a parking lot.
a woman in a wheelchair reaches her hand to her service dog, a black labradoodle.
a woman in a wheelchair follows behind a woman with her golden retriever in a food court.
a man in brightly colored clothing and a wheelchair smiles at something off camera.
a group of 7 people sit around a small table on a patio. A labradoodle and two Japanese Chin are visible.
7 people, two in wheelchairs, with service dogs (two Japanese Chin, a Min Pin, and a labradoodle), congregating on a patio.
2 people with service dogs (an Australian Shepherd and a Golden) and one using a walker leave a hotel while 2 people without service dogs follow in the background.
a woman with a golden retriever leads a group comprised mostly of service dog teams (an Australian Shepherd, a labradoodle, and a Min Pin) across a plaza.
7 people, some with service dogs, wheelchairs, and a walker, make their way along a sidewalk.
a line of convention attendees along a sidewalk. The include a Golden, a labradoodle, a Min Pin, an Australian Shepherd, and two Japanese Chin along with two wheelchairs and a walker.
a group of service dog teams (two Japanese Chin, an Australian Shepherd, a Min Pin, and a labradoodle), and a woman without a service dog, cross a parking lot toward a store. Two people are using wheelchairs, and one is using a walker.

Testing

Taking a Public Access Test or Service Dog in Training Manners Evaluation always feels like a big deal! Luckily our testers are experts at keeping everyone calm and the testing low-key. Testing started out on the meeting room, then proceeded around the hotel, the parking lot, a grocery store, and finally ended with a meal on a patio outside of a food court.

a person holds eye contact with their australian shepherd as they cross the room, while 2 women observe in the background.
a woman holding a leash bends over toward the min pin facing her.
a woman in a wheelchair, with 2 japanese chin in a bag on her lap, and a papillion observe a woman working with her golden retriever.
a woman holds eye contact with her papillion as they cross the room, while a woman in a wheelchair with 2 japanese chin in a bag in her lap observes in the background.
a woman walks across the room with her min pin while a woman holding a clipboard next to a golden retriever observes in the background.
a papillion on a leash with a leash slide that reads "service dog in training" looks toward the camera.
a line of people using disability assistance equipment including wheelchairs, a walker, a min pin, an australian shepherd and a golden retriever turn a corner in a brightly lit hallway.
4 people using assistive devices including wheelchairs, a walker, a min pin, a golden retriever and an australian shepherd congregate near the edge of an indoor dining area.
a woman wearing a green shirt and jeans holds open the driver's side door of a sedan while a min pin jumps out.
6 people using assistive devices including wheelchairs, a walker, an australian shepherd and a golden retriever travel along a street.
In the foreground, a woman in a wheelchair with a bag holding 2 japanese chin listens to a woman across from her. Nearby, a golden retriever and an australian shepherd relax, while in the focus of the picture a woman bends over to give a treat to a min pin as a woman and young boy watch.
an australian shepherd investigates, with its handler's encouragement, two friendly women (1 of who is reaching out her hand) who are interested in the dog.
a woman holding a min pin poses in front of a wheelchair while a woman with a golden retriever stands behind.
2 people, 1 with a golden retriever and 1 with a walker and australian shepherd, walk down the aisle of a store.
an australian shepherd sits and looks adoringly at a person seated on a walker seat, while a golden retriever looks on.
5 people using assistive devices including a walker, a wheelchair, an austrailian shepherd and a golden retriever walk in a line down an aisle in a grocery store.
a woman in a wheelchair with 2 japanese chin looks at a person with a walker while pointing in another direction, as a woman with a golden retriever looks on.
a person sitting in a walker at a table holds a collapsible bowl out for an austrailian shepherd.
a woman with a golden retriever hands a certificate to a person with an austrailian shepherd.
a woman holding a min pin and a certificate poses next to a woman with a golden retriever.
a person with a sitting austrailian shepherd poses with a certificate in front of a black background under a banner.

Social shopping

We had a group outing to TJ Maxx. People had fun shopping for dog supplies and even clothing for themselves! Mostly though, we just had a good time being out together.

A group of five teams (Japanese Chin, Papillon, labradoodle, Golden, and Min Pin) and two attendees stand outside TJ Maxx as a family with two kids walks by and stares at the dogs.
In an aisle overflowing with toys, a woman in a power wheelchair with two Japanese Chin reaches up to select a toy. A man behind her helps her select toys.
A Min Pin in a blue vest walks past and looks calmly into the camera.
A person with a walker and an Australian Shepherd walk down the pillow aisle as a woman with a Papillon stands in the background.
A woman in a green PSDP shirt with a Min Pin on her right push a woman in a wheelchair who has a black labradoodle on her left through TJ Maxx.
A woman in a green PSDP shirt holds up a white shirt to herself to see if it would fit. Her Min Pin looks on.
The woman and her Min Pin try on a white sweater in a full length mirror. The woman likes the sweater, but the dog is unimpressed.
The edges of this picture are black labradoodle fur as a Min Pin stands underneath that dog.
A man and woman sit on TJ Maxx furniture. Another woman in a power wheelchair with two Japanese Chin sits next to them, crossing her legs and tilting her head.
This black toy lab wearing a vest is a replica of one of our attendees retired service dogs.
As a woman smiles in the background, a man holds a very tall turquoise hat on his head.
A Japanese Chin is in the foreground of this picture. A woman walks down a main aisle of TJ Maxx pushing a cart with her Golden Retriever. Behind her is a woman with a Min Pin pushing a woman in a wheelchair with her labradoodle.
Chatting in TJ Maxx are a woman in a power wheelchair with two Japanese Chin and a woman with a Golden Retriever pushing a cart. In the background there is a black labradoodle.
A Golden Retriever and labradoodle stand in the aisle and look at the camera. Their handlers are off to the side of the picture.
The photographer's snazzy blue shoes on his wheelchair footrest match the blue vest of the Min Pin next to him looking up at the camera.
A man slumps in a chair while a woman in a wheelchair directs her labradoodle to jump on his lap. Another woman in a green PSDP shirt leans over to check if he is OK.
The slumped over man's partner checks on him while the woman in a wheelchair with the labradoodle, a woman in a power wheelchair with two Japanese Chin, and a woman with a Golden Retriever stand by.

Prizes

This year, due to an abundance of raffle prizes and a smaller-than-normal group of attendees able to stay till the last session, everyone brought home a prize!

On a table with a green tablecloth and black runner, there are multiple raffle prizes wrapped in yellow and green cellophane.
A stuffed toy Golden Retriever wearing a purple vest sits on the raffle table.
A man holds his cane, a long string of raffle tickets, a toy dog with a service dog vest, and a package wrapped in green cellophane.
A woman in a grey shirt clutches a toy service dog close to her chest.
A woman and her black labradoodle sit on the floor and are handed a pastel-colored dog mat.
A Papillon looks into the camera as raffle prices are scattered in front of and behind him.

Shoreline Village

This year was our first year adding a “tourism day” onto the end of the convention! While only five people and five dogs attended, we still had a great time! We went to the Shoreline Village, which is a boardwalk-style shopping area right next to the marina. A couple of us even took a roll to a local beach!

A woman holder her Min Pin and rides a mechanical horse while two other women sit nearby in wheelchairs. One has two Japanese Chin and the other has a Golden Retriever.
A woman takes a picture of her Min Pin who is on a mechanical mouse ride.
A man in a power wheelchair poses with one leg crossed over the other. He is extremely fashionably dressed in white, red, and turquoise.
A woman holds her Min Pin while smiling next to a statue of Elvis.
In a sock store, you are looking over the shoulder of a woman in a wheelchair with a Japanese Chin on her lap. A woman with a Min Pin is using one hand to reach for socks. The other hand is pushing a wheelchair.
One woman pushes another woman with a Golden Retriever in a wheelchair. The woman pushing the chair is holding up Disney slippers and smiling.
In a covered alleyway, a woman sits in her wheelchair with her Golden Retriever and admires the pretty glass lamps in front of a store.
A woman in a power wheelchair with two Japanese Chin, a woman with a Papillon, a woman in a wheelchair with a Golden, and another woman holding a Min Pin all stand in the alleyway outside the lamp store.
In front of a scenic section of railing covered in locks, a woman in a wheelchair with a Golden, a woman holding a Min Pin, and a woman in a power wheelchair holding two Japanese Chin smile.
A woman with a Min Pin pushes a woman in a wheelchair with a Golden in a chocolate store.
A Min Pin with a blue vest and leash stops next to a wheelchair wheel in the chocolate store.
The Golden and Min Pin are squished up against each other and the store wall to make room for the wheelchair being pushed by the Min Pin's handler.
With a Golden on one side and a Min Pin on the other, a woman pushes her friend's wheelchair down the boardwalk.
In front of a picturesque pink shop, a woman walks with her Papillon.
Three women and their dogs (two Japanese Chin, a Golden, and a Min Pin) sit outside at a metal table eating chocolate.
A Golden wearing purple gear stares regally into the distance.
The three women and their dogs wave and smile at the camera.
Next to the wheelchair, The Golden rests her head on her front feet while the Min Pin stands next to her looking ready to go.
Two best buddies smiling into the camera!
A woman in a wheelchair with a Golden on her left is being pushed by a woman with a Min Pin on her right. In the background a woman in a power wheelchair has two Japanese Chin on her lap. They are strolling down the boardwalk.
A woman and her Min Pin are "wanted dead or alive" in this poster you can stick your head through.
A woman in a power wheelchair with two Japanese Chin on her lap sits in front of a carousel.
The wind blows a woman's hair-- and that of her Japanese Chin while at the beach.
This picture of the woman and her Japanese Chin shows the beach in the background and tall buildings of downtown Long Beach.
This path leads to a beach, and is easy to walk or roll down as demonstrated by a woman in a wheelchair with Japanese Chin on her lap.
With blue skies all around, a woman smiles with her Japanese Chin on her lap.
A giant ferris wheel is in the background of this picture of a woman and her Japanese Chin.

Wet and mild

The hotel had a great pool and hot tub. For the hangers-on, this was a perfect place to relax and unwind after the convention. Of course, only the humans got to get in the water!

Two women in swim dresses sit on a lounge chair. Two Japanese Chin and a Golden Retriever accompany them. The Golden is leaning her head into her person's side.
Three women in swim dresses talk in the hot tub.
A tiny sable and white Japanese Chin sits on a lap and has her head in the foreground of this picture. The hot tub with women in it and other service dogs tied up around the hot tub are in the background.
Across the back of a Japanese Chin head, we see another Japanese Chin getting attention from a woman in the hot tub. Two other women are smiling while watching this. A Min Pin and Golden Retriever lie in the background.
A Miniature Pinscher stares deeply into the camera while lying on a lounge chair by the pool.

Fiery friendships

The fairy lights and fire tables lit our evening the last night we were there. Sitting around the glowing fire and chatting with our chosen family was such a pleasant way to wrap up a heartwarming convention.

A woman turns her head and smiles towards the camera with a Min Pin on her lap. There is a fire in front of her and a woman sitting across from the fire.
Three service dog handlers with a Min Pin, two Japanese Chin, and a Golden Retriever sit in the twilight around a propane fire in the middle of a table.
A woman wearing a green PSDP sweatshirt smiles in front of the table fire.
A grey haired woman tilts her head forward and smiles into the camera. The lights twinkle behind her.
A woman with a Japanese Chin on her lap smiles into the camera. The table fire is in the foreground of the picture.