The inaugural PAWtoberfest Beer & Wine Festival is being held Saturday to raise money for PAWS of Grays Harbor.
The 501(c)3 nonprofit, founded in Aberdeen in 1973, is the largest no-kill animal shelter in Grays Harbor County. It focuses on providing safe shelter for lost, abused and unwanted pets; a reduced-cost spay and neuter program; pet adoptions; and education of pet owners. It’s also in the process of taking on oversight of the Freedom Tails dog-training program at Stafford Creek Corrections Center.
“This is our first annual event, so we are quite excited about it,” said Molle Bouch, the shelter’s board president.
PAWtoberfest will run from 3 to 9 p.m. at Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores, with live music by Ready or Not starting at 6.
“Quinault Beach Resort is a partner with us in this event, and has been generous to donate the room for the night to us,” said Bouch, adding the resort also is offering a special room rate for attendees.
More than 20 different beers and five local wines will be served. Other vendor offerings will include jewelry, jerky, Scentsy products and women’s wear.
In addition, a silent auction will be held from 3 to 6:45 p.m., with baskets containing libations, pet essentials, firepits, custom cutting boards, a Pepsi cooler and more.
The shelter runs solely on donations, so fundraising is an ongoing need; but PAWS is targeting a specific project.
“We are raising money to finish the outdoor kennels,” said Bouch.“It costs around $3,000 to $4,000 a month for us to transport and house our dogs off-site, and finishing the outdoor runs will enable us to keep the dogs on-site at all times.”
Besides saving those boarding costs, she said, this will ease stress on the dogs because they will no longer have to be transported regularly back and forth from their lodgings at Blue Cross Veterinary Clinic in Central Park, 8 miles away.
Bouch added that as a result of completing the kennels, they will be able to expand the operating hours and possibly even add an “open” day. Right now, the shelter at 800 W. First St. in Aberdeen is open only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We are sincerely grateful for all the community support we have had, and we will continue to work toward a better environment for the animals as well as the adopters,” said Bouch, who volunteered with PAWS for years before joining the board.
Next on her agenda is hiring a live-in veterinarian who’d be on call 24/7, and acquiring a larger property to allow large dogs more space to run.
And it’s not just about the animals, she emphasized. “We’re doing it for the people, too. Finding the right fit is of paramount importance to us. We don’t just collect fees and give these animals to anyone.”
Tickets for PAWtoberfest are $20 per person or $30 per couple when purchased in advance at the casino, PAWS, Harbor Pacific, Waugh’s in Aberdeen, or Aberdeen Office Equipment. At the door, all tickets are $20 per person.
For more information, visit pawsgh.org.
(Kat Bryant | The Daily World) One of PAWS’ canine denizens occupies one of the shelter’s half-completed kennels.
(Kat Bryant | The Daily World) Molle Bouche, board president of PAWS of Grays Harbor, visits a young dog with no known name during its outdoor play time.
(Kat Bryant | The Daily World) Pat Pierce, known as the “Pack Leader” at PAWS of Grays Harbor, has been volunteering there for about 15 years.
