Drew Dixon
A popular tradition growing in Florida’s capitol bringing political animals together to help improve the lives of pets pulled off another successful effort this year.
This year was the 10th anniversary of the Red Dog Blue Dog event, where Florida lawmakers serve as bartenders to raise donations in Tallahassee supporting local animal rescues.
After a final tally, the event raised nearly $50,000. That money will go to a trio of animal refuge centers: the Animal Shelter Foundation, the Leon County Humane Society and Last Hope Rescue.
The event was held at the Township bar on South Woodward Avenue in Tallahassee. Billed as one of the “must attend events” in the capital each year, the fundraiser makes sure elected lawmakers really work for the people that night. To spice things up a bit, there is even a competition between the two political parties.
This year’s event saw Republicans come out on top in terms of fundraising. But the Red Dog victory was narrow. They topped the Blue Dogs by only $2,170, organizers said, out of $48,655 raised.
While the funds go to the animal shelters, the main objective is to promote pet adoptions in those shelters or to reunite lost pets with their proper owners. The event is also designed to encourage responsible pet ownership.
While legislators got to tend bar, the event also drew a notable amount of companies that sponsored the fun including Lisa Miller & Associates, bar sponsor Rubin Turnbull, McGuireWoods Consulting, TECO, On3PR, Anheuser-Busch, and Moffitt Cancer Center.
