By Kathy Chouteau
It was a grand affair for Yoyo and Mercedes.
The two rescue dogs, accompanied by six of their furry counterparts from The Milo Foundation, found their forever homes Thursday, March 21, at the nonprofit’s third annual “Paws & Pints Night” fundraiser at Richmond’s East Brother Beer Company.
The event saw approximately 250 people and dozens of their four legged friends come out on a sunny afternoon to support the nonprofit, which operates a rescue, Adoption Center and Sanctuary for domestic animals in Point Richmond and beyond. Milo’s adoptable dogs, a raffle with great prizes donated by local businesses, beer and delicious eats from the La Santa Torta food truck all contributed to an all-around jovial atmosphere.
“Dogs and beer…it kind of goes hand-in-hand,” said East Brother’s Steven Phillips about the fundraiser. “We’re very pro-dog here, we do like dogs. So we thought it would be a very fun thing for the community; it helps a nonprofit that’s very local and it also is a good way for people to come out and bring their little furry friends.”
Aside from providing Milo with its spacious digs for the fundraiser, East Brother also donated raffle items and more that evening. “We’re going to be donating $1 per pint,” said Phillips.
According to John Fonseca, outreach coordinator at the Milo Foundation, the organization typically raises around $1,000 in support of its programs at the annual event, which he described as being “Richmond’s preeminent gathering of the dogs.”
“Paws & Pints is all about a celebration of the dogs in our lives and our family members—the loved ones that we know and care for and that are a part of our family. It’s about enjoying time and a place where dogs can be with us for an afternoon with a little beer and a little food and a little camaraderie and it’s also about adoptions,” said Fonseca.
“A lot of the people here [at the fundraiser] are Milo adopters so they’re bringing their dogs to share this experience with them. And so it’s just a really good time—to celebrate ourselves, our families, our animals as part of our families and loved ones.”
While two of the eight Milo puppies—the aforementioned Yoyo and Mercedes—were adopted at Thursday’s fundraiser, six were not. If you’d like to visit the nonprofit’s Adoption Center, it’s located at 220 S. Garrard Blvd. in Point Richmond and is open every day except Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to adopt dogs and cats.
According to Fonseca, “Most animals are ready to go on a given day. So if someone is wanting to adopt, they can come visit us and take home a new family member that day.” Click here for more info.
