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Yappy Hour gives dog owners, pets space to relax

Humane Society’s fundraiser lets fur kids join their humans out for fun at pub

By Katie Gillespie, Columbian Education Reporter
Published: March 16, 2019, 8:57pm
4 Photos
Patrons crowd the patio Saturday at Heathen Brewing Feral Public House during the dog-friendly Yappy Hour, which raised money for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.
Patrons crowd the patio Saturday at Heathen Brewing Feral Public House during the dog-friendly Yappy Hour, which raised money for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. (Steve Dipaola for the Columbian) Photo Gallery

The year’s first weekend of spring weather came just in time for dozens of Vancouver families to sit on the porch of Heathen Brewing Feral Public House, drink a cold beer and play with the kids.

The fur kids, that is.

Saturday was the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s Yappy Hour (get it?), a dog-friendly gathering to raise money for the shelter and promote the upcoming Walk/Run for the Animals. Tiny Pomeranians, chunky Labradors and dogs of all sizes in between wiggled and wagged in their owners’ laps and at their feet.

“People make their pets part of their families now,” said Kyra Phelps, marketing and events coordinator for the Humane Society. “Getting to do fun things and experience fun things — bringing your pet out is a big part of why you do what you do.”

That much is evident in talking to those who attended Yappy Hour. Vancouver pet parents Adam Kennedy and Samantha Moullet sat with their pair of rescue dogs, 4-year-old Freya the Pomeranian mix and 1-year-old Lokito the Chihuahua mix.

“It’s a beautiful day, and what an excuse to take your dog out,” Moullet said.

Kennedy grew up with dogs, but Moullet never had one as a child. When they adopted Lokito from a private rescue, “everything changed,” Kennedy said.

“This guy, he changed her life,” he said, looking at Moullet and Lokito.

Only a couple of months after adopting the little guy, they adopted Freya, on Saturday clad in tartan.

“They’re our little babies,” Moullet said as she snuggled Lokito.

Keely Aldridge, meanwhile, truly did have a little baby, and one on theme for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend at that: 9-week-old Guinness, an Australian shepherd husky mix.

“You can tell this is the puppy table,” Aldridge said, rolling her eyes a bit as she held up a shredded pamphlet covered in puppy teeth marks.

For the moment, however, Guinness was having a snooze in mom’s lap.

“We love Heathen. We love dogs,” Aldridge said. “I thought it was a good event and a great cause.”

The event did double duty for Aldridge, who is a teacher at Cornerstone Christian Academy. She hopes Guinness can be an emotional support animal or therapy dog someday, visiting with kids in her classroom or at charitable organizations.

“I’d like to get him socialized enough to do that,” Aldridge said. “I’m trying to start early.”

The Humane Society will host another Yappy Hour from 2 to 5 p.m. April 13 at Heathen Brewing Feral Public House, 1109 Washington St., Vancouver.

The shelter’s annual Walk/Run for the Animals, one of its biggest fundraisers of the year, is at 7:30 a.m. May 4 starting at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St., Vancouver.

Effective Sunday, the registration cost for the event is $45 for walkers and $50 for runners.

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Columbian Education Reporter