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DRINK A PINT, SAVE A PAW
They say dogs are a man’s best friend, but beer might be a close second.
Columbus Rescue Dogs’ first inaugural “Paws and Pints Harvest” is set to get your paws on some pints Saturday, Nov. 9, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hound Song Brewing Company in Columbus.
Attendees will have a lot of fun to fill up their dog bowls; a doggy kissing booth, a silent auction featuring items such as a 16-foot-long John boat, igloo cooler, Bluetooth speaker and more, a raffle, door prizes and even a “Bougie Barking” fashion show that same afternoon, starting at 3 p.m. with $10 tickets to watch.
The fundraising event is in collaboration between Freedom Street Rescue and Columbus Rescue Dogs, raising money to help save and foster unwanted pets. Often times, these pets are lost or homeless, on the brink of death, or moments away from being euthanized at a shelter.
Christine Girndt, who has been a part of Columbus Rescue Dogs for over two years and aided in 49 successful rescue adoptions, describes the process of a “successful rescue,” and how it all begins by saving a formerly unwanted life.
“We pull dogs that have been in the pound for extended periods of time,” said Girndt. “People do not even know we have a city pound in Columbus. Even in Weimar, we pull their dogs right before euthanizing to save them, we put them in foster homes and get them adopted out, in a nutshell.”
Girndt says this is the organization’s first major fundraising event that they are throwing, having only set up booths at other events to raise awareness or through a collaborative “Pictures with Pets” event at Tractor Supply. That was until Hound Song reached out to the organization, according to Girndt, offering to lend a helping hand.
“Hound Song reached out to us and said they would like to help us do an event,” said Girndt. “We have had a lot of people already reach out, wanting to purchase a ticket.”
Each ticket purchase would go into aiding Columbus Rescue Dogs with their work saving unwanted pooches, which includes immunizations, any veterinarian bills, food, upkeep and more. Given that the organization is a nonprofit, Girndt says it is helpful to have the backing of the community, especially given the fact that volunteers such as herself make nothing off their dedicated time, with all proceeds going towards the dogs.
“I work two jobs plus take care of my family and my own dogs, aside from the ones I foster,” said Girndt. “It is a bit much sometimes, and we do get overwhelmed because it is constant. We constantly promote PUPS (Preventing Unwanted Pets) because that would eliminate this massive problem we have with unnecessary reproduction.”
With the event just weeks away, Girndt says above all the organization just wants to educate people in Columbus and across the county about the rampant issue of freely reproducing pets, hopefully opening their eyes to fostering and providing a “safe place and love” even if only temporarily.
“We are hoping to raise more awareness about spaying, neutering and people fostering,” said Girndt. “When I first started, I was one of those people who believed I would be unable to take on more dogs on top of the ones I have. But it is really not that hard. We (Columbus Rescue Dogs) provide everything, all you have to do is provide love and care for an animal for a brief time until they get adopted.”
