Barks and Brews: Vancouver’s first dog-friendly patio party

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you want to have a beer with your dog, you have the chance to do that today.

The Red Truck Beer Company in Olympic Village is hosting “Barks and Brews.”

Organizer Fay Egan with Jet Pet Resort says the patio will be open for you and your furry friend starting at noon.

“There’s going to be tons of volunteers on hand. It’s going to be an on-leash environment and there’s going to be lots of distractions like games to keep the dogs stimulated, and for family members, too.”

Egan says you’ll need to keep your dog on the leash, but doesn’t expect any problems.

“Owners in Vancouver are so responsible too, right? They know what kind of situations their dogs are good in and what kind of situations might be stressful for them.”

There has been demand for this kind of thing, Egan claims. She says the idea for Barks and Brews stems from demand.

“That’s the one thing people wish — especially when we’re working in daycares or in our facilities — one of the biggest wishes is they’ve got to leave their dog when they’re heading out for an afternoon. So this is trying to be able to have an inclusive afternoon where dogs and their families can go together and socialize and have fun.”

Should the event be a success, Egan hopes to encourage other companies to make more restaurants and bars accessible to pets rather than having to tie them up far from a pet-parent’s table.

“Try to bring awareness to the fact that we like to bring our pets with us when we go out.”

The event, which wraps up at 4:00 p.m. also includes snacks for your canine friend, as well as a dog-friendly photo booth.