Barks and Brews Run to raise money for Stafford Animal Shelter

Livingston, Montana – On Tuesday evening in Livingston, there will be the Barks & Brews 5k Fun Run to benefit the Stafford Animal Shelter.

Small Dog Realty is organizing the event, and proceeds will be used for Stafford’s ongoing recovery efforts as well as day-to-day costs.

The race will begin at Small Dog Realty at 6 o’clock and end at the Owl Lounge. You will cross the Yellowstone River on the rather flat route. The use of dogs when running or walking is advocated. The deadline for online registration is Monday night, but participants may still register on race day. All participants are urged to show there at 5:30.

At the conclusion of the race, participants over the age of 21 will receive a free drink, and Yellowstone Bank will be there selling burgers. There are chances for your dog to enjoy a treat after the run this year because they are also holding a raffle with some tasty prizes from Bridger Animal Nutrition.

In June 2022, the Stafford Animal Shelter experienced flooding, necessitating the evacuation of all animals, according to Pam McCutcheon, race director and proprietor of Small Dog Realty. She had previously organized fundraising activities for Stafford under the name Bark in the Park, but this year they decided to try something different, according to her.

“It’s a beautifully facility, run very well on a shoestring budget and they need, you know, veterinary stuff. They need food, they have people to care for the animals. Sothere’s an awful lot that goes into animal shelters,” she said.

McCutcheon has worked with Stafford for about ten years and donates a lot of time to animal shelters all around the state. She named her company after her stepdaughter’s tiny dog and donated a portion of the proceeds from real estate transactions to shelters in 2008 when the real estate market crashed.

“I’ve always loved animals. When I lived in Livingston, I would load up my car full of middle school kids. We’d walk every single dog at that shelter. It just mattered to me,” she said.