Pints for Pups (Underdog Pet Rescue)

Dogs are just the best.  I mean it.  And as I stand next to Emily and Caitlin of the Enchanted Animals project, I’ve never been more certain of that fact.  It’s hot out at the Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin Pints for Pups event, in that unseasonable way that Wisconsin sometimes likes to throw at you in late spring.  Not to worry, there’s plenty of water for the dogs and beer for the humans, and besides, these dogs don’t complain much.  No, they’re just happy to be, well, anywhere.

Every dog at the event is a rescue, and they’re all here to see if maybe today’s the day they get to go home and stay there, with a family of their own.  They’re all fostered by people who care a saintly amount about the lives of our furry friends, but it’s not quite the same as having their forever home.  It’s the difference between visiting your favorite bed and breakfast, and spending all day at home watching television in your underwear.  They’re both nice, but only one is pure, perfect comfort.  And that’s nothing less than these dogs deserve.  

We heft our large, Lucky’s Brew Pub beers and head out to meet some of these adorable adoptees.  Emily points one out to me that we’re currently in the process of enchanting, and tells me her name is Baby Girl.  Baby Girl looks like a lovable female version of Steve Buscemi if he were a dog, and although she’s a little overwhelmed by the crowd, it doesn’t take long for her to warm up to us.  The feeling is entirely mutual.  We make small talk for about as long as one can when surrounded by dogs, and then it’s time to keep moving.

We make our way from dog to dog, and are met with a blur of wagging tails and wide, smiling faces.  I’m struck, as I am at every event like this, just how friendly everyone is.  The dogs, of course, are a delight, but the humans, too, are all wonderful.  The depth of their compassion for these animals is commendable, and it’s a pleasure for me to be in the company of people doing this much good.  

Did I mention there are puppies?  There are also puppies.  It doesn’t take us long to notice that there’s a small play area set up in the grass off of the bar’s patio for the puppies to play, and so of course we set off past the sign telling us that no drinks are allowed in the grass, and go to see the only thing that could make us leave our beers behind.  The puppies are a fan favorite, and there’s no mistaking why.  They throw themselves around and roll in the grass like drunken toddlers, to our delight, and I can’t help but think that yes, any dog adopted today will be lucky, but no more so than the human that brings them home.

It’s only later, as Emily and I sit at the bar, out of the heat, that we seriously consider adopting every dog at the event.  We talk ourselves out of it, with some regret, but it wouldn’t be right to deny anyone reading this the opportunity to have what we had witnessed outside.  And so, if you’re in the market for a best friend and family member, I hope you’ll consider looking into a local charity event like this near you.  The worst thing that could happen is you might end up enjoying a beer, while the best thing is considerably better and longer lasting.

Say hi to your dog for me, 

Tobias