You are cordially invited to:
The 2025 Dogs On the Go Science Expo
Where #2 is the Number One Topic!
Saturday, November 8, 2025
9:00am-4:30pm
McHenry County College
8900 Rt 14
Crystal Lake, Illinois
In honor of Veteran’s Day, Veterans attend for free with DD214 or VA ID.
Seniors (55+) and students also attend for free - ID required.
Friends and family must complete registration below.
Please email hearingalertdogs@gmail.com to reserve your spot or register through Get Tickets below.
Over $4,000 worth of raffle prizes await you - including tickets for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Wolves!
Join Dogs On the Go Hearing Assistance Dogs for the most memorable fundraiser of 2025 — a unique, scholarly, and entertaining scientific journey. Attend up to 3 seminars with subject matter experts.
ASL/English Interpreting Program
Live captioning for all presentations
EXPO SCHEDULE
8:15 - 9:00 am Registration, coffee. Visit our vendors, raffle table & program table.
9:00 - 10:00 am Welcome & Orientation to the day – Rich Tobias, Master of Ceremonies
Introduction to Dogs On the Go Hearing Assistance Dogs – Anna Evans
10:15 – 11:15 am Session #1 options
Gut Feelings: Why Anxiety Hits Below the Belt – Dr. Jennifer Schmaus
From Surviving to Thriving: Elevate Your Pet’s Wellness and Gut Health – Dorothy Vetrovec
Worm Whisperers: Intro to Vermicomposting – Cathy Klink & Suzi Morrissey
11:15 – 11:45 am Break. Cake Walk. Visit our vendors, raffle table & program table.
11:45 – 12:45 pm Keynote Speaker: Bryn Nelson, PhD
Author of “Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure”
12:45 – 1:15 pm Bryn Nelson book signing
12:45 – 1:45 pm Lunch. Cake Walk. Visit our vendors, raffle table & program table.
1:45 – 2:45 pm Session #2 options
Our Water Future: Capturing, Purifying and Reusing – Morgan Drake, JD
Human Digestive Drama Resolved! – Reneé Barasch, LDHS
Get Your Pup Off Your Sh*t List – Montana Hayes
2:45 – 3:30 pm Break. Raffle winning tickets pulled. Must be present to win. Good luck!
3:30 – 4:30 pm Session #3 options
Groundbreaking Fertility: Manure’s Role in Agriculture – Eric Carlberg
Aquaponics: Fish Poop Feeding Plants – Rich Tobias
The Gut Trumps All: A Nutritional Perspective on Companion Animal Health & Wellness – Dr. Christine Jurek
SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION
Keynote Speaker Bryn Nelson, PhD 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
IN-PERSON guest appearance by the author of
Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure
Seminar Presentations
Explore novel and popular science topics with our subject matter experts
Session 1 Options (10:15 - 11:15am)
Gut Feelings: Why Anxiety Hits Below the Belt with Dr. Jennifer S. Schmaus, PhD
From Surviving to Thriving: Elevate Your Pet’s Wellness and Gut Health with Dorothy Vetrovec
Worm Whisperers: An Introduction to Vermicomposting with Suzi Morrissey and Cathy Klink
Session 2 Options (1:45 - 2:45pm)
Our Water Future: Capturing, Purifying, and Reusing with Morgan Drake, J.D.
Human Digestive Drama Resolved! with Reneé Barasch, LDHS
Get Your Pup Off Your Sh*t List: Effective Housebreaking and Becoming Poop-Savvy with Montana Hayes, Member of APDT, IAABC
Session 3 Options (3:30 - 4:30pm)
Groundbreaking Fertility: Digging into Manure's role in Agriculture with Eric Carlberg
Aquaponics: Fish Poop Feeding Plants with Richard Tobiasz, MS
The Gut Trumps All: A Nutritional Perspective on Companion Animal Health and Wellness with Dr. Christine Jurek, DVM, MSIVM-C
SCINTILLATING FUN
Break the rules and talk about #2
Immerse yourself in a day of nonstop, cheeky puns
Win cool quiz prizes
A human and pet-themed “Cake Walk”
Explore our large vendor area for services, local organizations, and holiday gifts
Raffle Table and 50/50 Raffle
Optional lunch by McAlister’s Deli available for purchase during registration
SUPPORT DOGS ON THE GO HEARING ASSISTANCE DOGS
WHERE INTEGRITY MEETS INNOVATION
Discover how rescue dogs and personal pets are trained to increase safety and independence for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing
Learn, laugh, and have fun while raising funds for Dogs On the Go
Proceeds will directly support Dogs On the Go Hearing Assistance Dogs, a 501(c)3 non-profit in Crystal Lake, IL. Our program trains and places rescues with Illinois and Wisconsin residents who are Deaf or hard of hearing. We also offer in-person and virtual coaching for people who want to train their pet as their hearing assistance dog.
Success Stories
Patrice used to search for her lost phone for hours. Now, hearing dog Silvie finds it in thirty seconds.
Vietnam combat Veteran, Mark, with hearing dog Abbi.
Hearing dog Maisie alerts Karen when her 92 year old father calls Karen’s name.
Hearing dog Chloe will be alerting mom, Nikki, to the cry of her newborn child in November 2025.