Animal lovers can enjoy dinner, music and micro-brew tasting, while helping cats and dogs in need of a home, at the second annual Barktoberfest on Oct. 22 at The Blu Bar.
Penny Tanner, co-owner of the family-owned business at 811 S. Main St., said they chose to support the Humane Society of Moab Valley because they love animals and have three dogs of their own.
“We decided we wanted to do something in October around beer and beer-tasting,” Tanner said. “Last year, we did a food and whiskey-tasting event and live auction. We raised $500 for the humane society. It’s the one nonprofit organization we’re the most passionate about.”
The $25 tickets include dinner and beer tastings of Vienna Marzen and Chasing Tail Golden Ale from Wasatch Brewery and Squatters Craft Beers in Salt Lake City. The Utah Brewery Cooperative will also donate gift baskets to auction off at the event; proceeds will benefit the humane society.
After the tasting event, The Blu Bar plans to start carrying the two SLC brews, partial proceeds of which will be an ongoing donation to the humane society, Tanner said.
Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the regularly scheduled Community Music Night at 7 p.m. That’s when doors open for the general public and musicians who wish to perform during the open mike session.
“We decided to do it on Wednesday because it is community night, and it’s a community fundraiser. It went hand-in-hand,” Tanner said.
Money raised from the Barktoberfest will go toward supporting the humane society’s pet adoption program, said animal coordinator Tricia Gundlach, one of two part-time employees. Leigh Ryan is the Humane Society of Moab Valley director.
“We are a local nonprofit, and not associated with, or receive funding from the Humane Society of the United States,” Gundlach said. “Ninety percent of our funding comes from local donations and events.”
The Barktoberfest event will go toward covering “spay and neutering, care and medical costs, vaccines, microchips and advertising,” Gundlach said. “Adoptions take up a large portion of our funds.”
The nonprofit maintains office space at the city’s Moab Animal Shelter, 956 E. Sand Flats Rd.
“The Humane Society of Moab Valley is a foster-based organization,” Gundlach said. “We use volunteer foster homes to care for all of our animals. We’re always looking for new foster homes.”
The nonprofit organization also helps the city adopt out animals from its shelter, and is continually seeking volunteers to help raise funds for the Moab animal shelter.
When the city shelter runs out of space, volunteers step up to take in those animals who are awaiting permanent homes, Gundlach said. In 2013, the local humane society found homes for 54 dogs and 53 cats. Moab established a no-kill policy in October 2003.
The humane society also operates a trap, neuter and release program for feral cats to prevent overpopulation.
The humane society hosts four adoption days each month. Cats are featured the first and third Saturday at Moab BARKery, 82 N. Main St. Dogs are offered the second and fourth Saturday outside City Market, 425 S. Main St. A listing of all animals available for adoption can be found at www.moabpets.org.
For more information, visit www.moabpets.org. To purchase Barktoberfest tickets, call The Blu Pig/Blu Bar at 259-3333, or the humane society at 259-4862.
Celebrate ‘Barktoberfest’ at The Blu Bar mid-week in Moab
What: Barktoberfest fundraiser to benefit Humane Society of Moab Valley
When: Oct. 22, Dinner: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Community Music Night starts at 7 p.m.
Where: The Blu Pig’s Blu Bar, 811 S. Main St.
Cost: $25, includes dinner, beer and music. Tickets available at The Blu Bar.
Information: 435-259-3333, or 435-259-4862
