Photo: Kendell Victoria Photography
You may know Tito’s Handmade Vodka for their high-quality, ultra-smooth craft spirit, but we know ’em for something else altogether — their major obsession with helping pets.
From sponsorships and donations to their very own mission to rescue neighborhood strays and dog-friendly office, here’s why our longtime partners at Tito’s Handmade Vodka are top dog when it comes to pup-loving businesses. (Bonus: Scroll forth for a delish Tito’s cocktail recipe.)
Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Sidewalk Dog: the Perfect Concoction
For us, it all starts with how Tito’s Handmade Vodka is making a difference right here in Minneapolis (Sidewalk Dog HQ!). As our Yappy Hour event partner, Tito’s is key to the work that we do for local rescues and animal nonprofits. In fact, if you’ve partied with us at one of our Yappy Hours, you and your lucky dog have scored some pawesome Tito’s swag while sipping on fresh cocktails, meeting new fur-iends, and helping raise some bones for our beneficiaries.
Tito’s supports dog-centric events in other cities, too: Miami, Kansas City, and Portland, to name a few.
Growing Their Pack
Dogs have been a part of Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s history since the very beginning. When Tito’s founder and master distiller, Tito Beveridge, first started the spirit company over 20 years ago, his distillery quickly became home to a growing number of stray dogs. With his own rescue dog Dogjo by his side, he and his team cared for and eventually found homes for over 85 pooches in need. Most were adopted by Tito’s own employees and became pawfect new additions to their pack.
With a pup-loving culture like that, it’s no surprise their offices are dog friendly. We love following their Co-Woofer of the Month series, featuring their charming, fuzzy officemates.
Vodka for Dog People
Born out of their love for pups was the Vodka for Dog People program, with a vision to “unite with [their] friends, fans, and partners to better the lives of pets and their families far and wide”. Through this pawesome program, Tito’s Handmade Vodka supports hundreds of animal nonprofits across the country through events, fundraisers, adoption sponsorships, and more.
One such partnership is with Austin-based Emancipet, a low-cost spay/neuter and preventative care network whose mission is to make high-quality veterinary care affordable and accessible to all pet owners.
Emancipet provided vet services for the stray dogs turned furry teammates at Tito’s distillery, and since then has continued to grow their network of services and their partnership with Tito’s. What’s more, 100% of net proceeds from sales of Vodka for Dog People products support Emancipet. Like their uber pup-ular plush squeaky toy in the shape of a vodka bottle, and their super stylish leash, just to name a few. Can we get a “pup yeah”?
Get Your Paws on their Swag
Want to get a hold of some of their fur-tastic goods for your own pupper? Check out their online store, or join Sidewalk Dog at an upcoming Yappy Hour. We’ve always got super refreshing Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails on the Yappy Hour menu, plus tons of giveaways from our best pals at Tito’s. Watch our events page for more patio pawties coming soon.
Meanwhile, pick up a bottle of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and whip up a cocktail at home. One yummy option is Tito’s Greyhound:
- 1.5 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1 rosemary sprig
- To make, just add Tito’s Handmade Vodka and fresh grapefruit to a rocks glass with ice.
Stir and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
And that’s just the beginning — they’ve got plenty of other cocktail recipes that’ll have you drooling.
Wags of thanks to Tito’s Handmade Vodka for their partnership with Sidewalk Dog and for all they do to support animals. They’re the doggone best. ♥
Be sure to use #VodkaForDogPeople and #SidewalkDog in pics of your pup with your favorite spirit. (You guys: their dog-centric Instagram is to die for!)
