MILWAUKEE — “Doggy Day” may seem like a fun social event on the surface, but there’s so much more to it. The event raises money to help local animals in need.
Milwaukee’s Deer District is hosting Doggy Day on the plaza, on Saturday until 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and their “well-socialized, leashed” pooches.
Doggy Day features local vendors, food, drinks, live entertainment, prizes and activities for furry friends and their humans.
They’re all coming together for a good cause: Winston’s Wishes. It’s Wisconsin nonprofit that raises money for dogs that do not do well in local animal shelters, many of whom shut down completely, such as older dogs or fur babies who just need a little extra TLC.
“[My dog] wouldn’t have even had a chance if his pregnant mother hadn’t been rescued,“ Staci Blythe, the owner of For the Love of Drax, said. “People like Winston’s Wishes take these dogs, who truly would not live, and they give them this amazing chance to have this great life.”
Blythe’s dog, Drax, was born inside a shelter. He had a slew of medical issues she said she didn’t know about until after she adopted him. She started making dog bow ties as a way to pay for his medical bills, but now, For the Love of Drax has grown into a full-fledged business. It’s one of the many vendors at Doggy Day.
Cassidy Duborg was showing off her book “Tiny Tutu Is All Mixed Up” at Doggy Day. The children’s book is about Duborg’s pug, who’s spotted. Usually pugs are black or fawn.
“I created it because she gets comments sometimes that she looks different, or ‘That’s not a pug,’” Duborg said.
She wrote the book about Tutu heading to school for the first time. She gets made fun of, but eventually learns that she is still beautiful, and her differences make her special.
Every dog is special. That’s something Sarah Lauch knows all too well. She’s the founder of the Live Like Roo Foundation, another vendor at the event.
Her dog, Roo, was diagnosed with cancer. Through her nonprofit, she’s given out $1.5 million to help owners pay their furry friends’ medical bills. They also send cancer care packages with Roo’s favorite things, like treats, toys, blankets, tennis balls and McDonalds gift cards. That package also includes a bucket list.
Roo passed away six months after his diagnosis. Lauch said getting in fun memories with your dog in their final days is important, whether it be boat rides or hotel stays.
“When he passed away I wanted to pass on [that feeling of] comfort,” Lauch said.
The nonprofit has helped more 5,000 families. One of those families happened to be Jake Schneider’s. Schneider is the founder of Winston’s Wishes.
“We have a lot of people here that we’ve helped,” Lauch said. “I wanted to give back, and come back to Milwaukee since they support us so much.”
Winston’s Wishes houses dogs in “Doggie Condos” on a multi-acre property, featuring play yards, windows, dimming lights and sound eliminating panels. After spending time in the condos, dogs head to foster homes until they find fur-ever families.
To learn more about the nonprofit, click here.
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