High Country Taproom and Dog Bar to Host K-9 Keg Pull for Partners! Canines on Jan. 21

By Jessica Isaacs | jessica@highcountrypress.com

Looking for fun you can have with your pup and other dog owners in the community? High Country Taproom and Dog Bar on Sugar Mountain hopes you’ll attend the second annual K-9 Keg Pull on Saturday, Jan. 21.

The only event of its kind in town, the keg pull brings local folks together for a little friendly competition among their four-legged friends, not to mention the craft beer, fresh food and a chance to catch up with your neighbors and meet some new faces.

Two of last year's keg pull participants.
Two of last year’s keg pull participants.

Registered doggy participants will be categorized by size and weight and will race in one-on-one heats pulling appropriately sized empty kegs (even cans for the tiniest racers). They’ll run the enclosed course on a leash with their owners, some pulling their cargo on sleds for easy travel. Whether you’re there to race or to enjoy the show, and whether your pup comes with you or not, it’s a great way to have a little fun this winter, and all proceeds from the day will directly support Partners! Canines.

“The idea would be to have snow, but we’re going to have Astroturf down to make it a little more quiet for them to pull. For the bigger ones, we’ll mount the kegs on sleds,” said Partners! Canines Director Eva Hyatt. “We’ll have heats where two dogs race against each other and then the winners race and we’ll have a winners’ circle for the winners in each category.”

For spectators, food will be available from Snack Wagon, there will be great shopping at the silent auction and, of course, let’s not forget craft beer at the Taproom.

For dog owners, The Pet Place will offer gift bags for $5 donations to Partners!

Don’t forget to swing by the photo booth with your furry family members and pick up your long sleeve T-shirt for just $20!

“If you don’t have a dog, you can still watch,” Hyatt said. “It’s a lot of fun and it’s quite entertaining.”

The event drew in about 40 participating dogs last year, and the organization hopes to double that number this year.

Registration is $12 in advance online and $15 the day of the event. Registration will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on race day. Races will begin at 1 p.m. with the smallest size category and move up to the larger dogs throughout the day.

All participating pups will receive a race packet complete with goodies from My Best Friend’s Barkery, a bandana from Mountain Dog and more.

Register online or call 386-506-1073 for more information.

PARTNERS! Canines works to transport healthy, adoptable dogs from high-kill shelters and animal control facilities to larger shelter organizations, helps provide vaccinations and establishes short-term foster homes. Its mission aims to end the euthanasia of adoptable dogs due to shelter space in the South.

Last year, Partners! Canines saved close to 1,500 dogs and has saved around 10,000 lives in the past 10 years.

Photos from last year’s keg pull (keep scrolling for event flyer):

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