Next Saturday, PAWS of Grays Harbor will bring dogs and beer together in a Pub and Pup Crawl through Aberdeen.
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Aug. 24, five establishments will take part in the fundraiser for the shelter, welcoming dogs into those areas with outdoor seating.
“This is an event I think we might make an annual tradition. We’re looking forward to it,” said Anna Boeche, executive director of the shelter. “It’s really fun when you can do fundraising with other people, other businesses.”
Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill, Mount Olympus Brewing (MOB), Rediviva, Steam Donkey Brewing Company, and The Tap Room are all participating in the crawl. Dogs are welcome at all save Messy Jessy’s, which doesn’t have an outdoor area for them.
“We have a history and relationship with those businesses. We wish we could do more — we have ties to many businesses downtown,” Boeche said. “This is a fundraiser we hope to build on next year.”
The Pub and Pup Crawl will go after an adoption event at Tractor Supply in Aberdeen running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, where anyone can come look and perhaps adopt one of the animals currently passing through the crowded shelter.
“We’ll have another big adoption event at the end on September 7th,” Boeche said. “We’re planning to do that one in-house.”
The event comes during the 10th annual Clear the Shelters event, which runs between Aug. 10 and Sept. 10, Boeche said. The shelter is offering a 20% discount on adoption fees during that time, Boeche said.
“Unfortunately, length of stay for both dogs and cats has elevated. This is a national trend that we’re seeing,” Boeche said. “We need to make space. We’ve tried to alleviate this by doing some transfers. We’re having a hard time getting cats into homes.”
The event will have games with prizes such as electronics, gift cards and hotel stays, Boeche said. Games will include a balloon pop and guessing the number of dog treats in jars, Boeche said.
“We do have several games so you can help us fundraise but also maybe win some swag yourself. Each location has specials that some of the proceeds will go toward PAWS,” Boeche said. “If you win a prize at any location, chances are you’ll pick it up at MOB. Or alternate arrangements can be made.”
There’s also a free passport game — entrants in the free game who visit all five bars are entered to win prizes in a drawing, Boeche said.
“We want everyone to get a chance to go to all the locations,” Boeche said. “At each location they will have their individual stamp and they will stamp you.”
The fundraiser isn’t thrown idly, Boeche said — times are harsh for the shelter as they seek to find loving homes for the animals in their care, and to keep spots open for animals needing a new home to come in.
“We need all the funds we can get. Our cost to save animals has increased, just like everyone’s cost of living has increased, our cost of doing business has increased,” Boeche said. “We do not even make close to what we need. Donations are down — if people are struggling financially, they don’t have funds to donate.”
For more information about adopting or donating, check out the PAWS of Grays Harbor website.
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or michael.lockett@thedailyworld.com.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World A cat and her kitten wrestle at PAWS of Grays Harbor.
PAWS of Grays Harbor hopes to find permanent homes for many of its resident, like this barn cat, during its Clear the Shelter event this month. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
PAWS of Grays Harbor hopes to find permanent homes for many of its resident, like this barn cat, during its Clear the Shelter event this month. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
