Cheers! Local brewery connects community and animal welfare
A new Flagstaff beer is bringing together cold pours, local pride and a cause worth raising a glass to. Historic Brewing Company and Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit have teamed up to release Dog Days Witbier, a limited-time collaboration brewed to help Northern Arizona pets get the veterinary care they need.
The 4.6% ABV witbier was brewed and canned in Flagstaff, with a portion of sales benefiting Dr. Kelly’s PAL Fund. The fund provides free and subsidized surgical care for pets whose owners are facing financial hardship. In other words, every pint comes with a little extra purpose.
“This partnership is really about meeting a community need in a creative, local way,” says Doug Patriquin, co-founder of Dr. Kelly’s. “There are so many pets and families in Northern Arizona who need help accessing care, and the PAL Fund allows us to step in when cost becomes the barrier.”
The collaboration came together after Dr. Kelly’s approached Historic Brewing about creating a fundraiser that could generate both financial support and greater awareness. Pairing a locally brewed beer with a shared commitment to animal welfare made the partnership an easy fit.
That spirit was on full display during Historic Brewing Company’s July 18 Hot Dog Days of Summer celebration. Rain rolled in and posed a challenge, but it did little to dampen the mood. About 100 people stopped by throughout the afternoon for beer, adoptable dogs and a crowd-pleasing K9 demonstration. One pup found a home during the event, while two other attendees arranged follow-up visits with adoptable dogs. Guests also supported the fundraiser by purchasing Dog Days Witbier to go, extending the impact beyond the taproom.
“It was an incredible event on all fronts,” Patriquin says. “Thank you to the community for letting us be a part of it.”
Historic Brewing was equally eager to help turn a local beer release into something bigger.
“We jumped at the chance to support their mission and help local animals get the care they need,” says Zack Stoll, head brewer at Historic Brewing Company. “Dr. Kelly’s does so much more than spay and neuter services. Their team provides essential veterinary care that gives pets a better chance at staying healthy, staying out of shelters and finding loving homes.”
Since 2016, Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit has provided affordable surgical care to more than 300,000 dogs and cats across Arizona. Through its services, community partnerships and financial assistance programs, the organization works to make veterinary care more accessible for pet owners who might otherwise have to delay treatment.
For some families, support from the PAL Fund can mean the difference between waiting and getting a pet the care it needs.
Dog Days Witbier is expected to remain available on tap and in cans at Historic Brewing Company in Flagstaff for the next several months, depending on demand. It is a limited-time pour with a simple mission: drink local and help a pet.
Do you have something you'd like to submit that will help inform, inspire, or move someone toward helping end the pet crisis? Please email: Info@therescuedogproject.com
Your voice can help shift perspectives, encourage people to adopt successfully, volunteer confidently, advocate freely, inform rationally, and collaborate openly to help end the pet crisis in our own communities.
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