‘Meow-loween’ event helps to find homes for pets in need of adoption

Sean and Candace Ruth, owners of Three Rifles Distilling Co. recently hosted Meow-loween, a pet adoption event, at which they teamed with Saving Kittens Sanctuary and Mikaela’s Mutt Motel to help local cats and dogs find their “furever” homes.

“Today, Saving Kittens Sanctuary has brought some adorable adoptable kitties, and Mikaela’s Mutt Motel has brought some amazing adoptable dogs,” Candace Ruth said. “We are big animal supporters. We have four cats, and all of them were adopted locally. We say ‘Adopt don’t shop’. These babies need homes.”

Three Rifles Distilling Co. has been in business for 16 months, making a name for themselves with their Independence Bourbon, Revolutionary Rye, and 1^st Amendment Coconut Rum. 

“It’s going really well and growing exponentially,” Sean Ruth said. “The downstairs area is for production. We have our distillery on one side and Star Spangled Brewery on the other. We share a tasting room. We love working with local charities to host events like this. It allows us to help them get their name out, while helping the community.”

Outside, the cats were on one side of the building and the dogs on the other, for obvious security reasons. Sarah Tackett talked about Honey, a sweet dog with whom she posed for a picture. “She has a very sad story,” Tackett said. “She was used as a bait dog, then she came to Mikaela’s Mutt Motel, and is now one of the sweetest dogs you’ll ever meet. That tail is always wagging.”

Mikaela Lambert talked about Saturday’s adoption event and her overall mission. 

“We have several adoptable dogs here today, and we’re glad to be teamed up with Saving Kittens Sanctuary,” Lambert said. “There are a couple of vendors and a silent auction set up on the side of the building. We also have Brutha’s BBQ cooking up some great food. We’re raising money that will be split between the two rescues. We’re also accepting food and supplies donations. There are some families and couples out here with us today. It’s a beautiful day, and we’re just having a good time.”

Though it was billed as Meow-loween, not too many had shown up in costume. 

“It might be a little early for costumes,” Lambert said. “But, we’ve had a few, and we’re doing well. It’s important for people to keep receiving the message that the need never ends. We also ask everyone to please spay and neuter.”

Kelly O’Brien explained that Saving Kittens Sanctuary is a nonprofit 501(c)(3).  

“We take donations of food, cat litter, and all kinds of related supplies,” O’Brien said. “We take in animals from MC Animal Control to help them keep the numbers down, and we save kittens. This year we have taken in over 400 kittens, and successfully adopted most of them out. Today, to raise funds, we have a silent auction, and lots of baked goods for sale.

“We work a lot with kittens that are ill or are otherwise not thriving, as well as mama cats, and cats that have been abandoned. Many of those we take in have to be bottle fed. One of the litters here today is one that I actually bottle fed. They each started at about 5 ounces, and now they’re all close to 4 pounds.”

Saving Kittens Sanctuary  spays and neuters all their kittens. They are all fully vetted, micro-chipped, and ready to go to a good home. The organization is 100% volunteer-run, and donation reliant. Every dollar we raise goes to the mission. 

You can find both these great organizations on Facebook.