Hoping to raise $15,000 to purchase equipment needed to have Mobile Animal Surgical Hospital (MASH)-style spay/neuter clinics for community cats, the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition is hosting their first-ever Pints for Paws event Sept. 29 from 5-9 p.m. The event will feature a live rock and blues band, raffle prizes, food vendors and beer tastings courtesy of Vanish Farm Wood Brewery, where the event will take place.
And it’s not the first time this duo has joined forces. In the past they’ve focuses on helping cats get vaccinated and creating more immediate care for those in need of medical procedures.
“Our organizational creed is ‘Community cats, community effort’ and [partnering with] Vanish [Farm Wood Brewery] is a perfect example of this,” says Kim Fields, president and founder of Loudoun Community Cat Coalition. “We feel that this partnership will inspire others and help to create a paradigm shift in the way community cats are viewed.”
All Pints for Paws proceeds will go towards the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition’s Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) efforts which seek to manage the population and welfare of our community’s feline friends.
“People want to help save the lives of community cats and kittens but they either don’t know how or the resources are not accessible,” says Fields. “The key thing here is people want to help, and we are working with our entire community so that they can.”
The Loudoun Community Cat Coalition is working actively with local veterinarians to implement programs that are accessible and affordable for people interested in learning how to properly care for these cats and potentially become volunteers. These educational workshops help to train the public on colony management.
In addition to their work with Vanish Farm Wood Brewery, the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition has also held fundraisers at 8 Chains North Winery (they are planning another event there on November 11), the Barnhouse Brewery and Blackfinn Ameripub.
At these events, the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition has managed to raise close to $10,000, allowing them to organize and sponsor two trap, neuter, return clinics. As a result, over 200 community cats have been fixed, vaccinated and given medical attention.
“We pulled over 40 kittens to safety, gave them medical attention and sent them to forever homes,” Fields says.
There is no admission cost for the Pints for Paws event, though a $20 per person donation is recommended (and includes raffle tickets). Vendor prices vary.