Yappy Hour at Dover Bay Resort on July 30

Yappy Hour is a new Sandpoint event which is essentially a happy hour where you can bring your dog with you. This is a concept that was started by my wife when we lived in Santa Barbara, CA and that really took off. There are too few places where dogs are allowed and even welcomed. The first event here in Sandpoint was hosted by the Ponderay Vet Clinic at the Dog Park. This second event will take place at Dover Bay Resort from 4-7p on July 30, in the lawn between the Cafe and Pool.

Admission is free with a cash bar and other refreshments available. Donations are welcome, with all monies going to the Panhandle Animal Shelter, our local no-kill shelter.

The concept of Yappy Hour was inspired by our paralyzed pug named Molly, who very sadly passed away last week at the age of 8. The original events were fundraisers for the Molly Inspires Foundation, which provided character education in elementary schools and a resource for owners of special needs dogs like Molly.

Our dog Molly was born with a twisted spine that caused paralysis in her bottom half from about 3 months old. Vets told us that she would not live past 1 year due to the bladder problems and infections that would result, and they recommended putting her to sleep. We kept her anyway and basically did whatever it took and spent big dollars to keep her plugging along.

Molly's spirit will be with us forever. She changed our outlook on many things in life, teaching my wife, myself and countless others the meaning of gratitude, acceptance, and courage. Tough to imagine a dog doing all this, but our relationship with Molly led to many things and truly changed our world. Mandy and I would not be the parents we are today or the friends we are today without having experienced this.