OTTAWA, ON, March 1, 2024 - Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amerique du Nord (VWB/VSF) is paws-itively thrilled to announce the return of its Animals & Ales photo contest, which gives pet owners (19+) the opportunity to showcase their four-legged (or finned) superstars on the labels of exclusive beers (one per brewery). The two-week photo contest is in partnership with eight hop-tastic breweries across Canada, including Blood Brothers Brewing (Toronto, ON), Fixed Gear Brewing Company (Guelph, ON), Hell's Basement Brewery (Medicine Hat, AB), Landwash Brewery (Mount Pearl, NL), NWT Brewing (Yellowknife, NT), The Second Wedge Brewing Company (Uxbridge, ON), Storm Stayed Brewing Company (London, ON), and Trailway Brewing Company (Fredericton, NB). Animals & Ales launches today at 9:00 a.m. ET and will run until March 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Contest winners will be determined based on the number of votes for each photo.
“The Animals & Ales Photo Contest is such a great way for us to engage animal lovers from coast to coast to coast,” said Charmaine Brett, executive director at VWB/VSF. “By partnering with these eight incredible breweries to create custom labels, we can encourage pet guardians to not only celebrate their beloved non-human companions, but also help animals that would otherwise have no access to veterinary care,” added Brett. “It’s truly a ‘hoppy harmony’, win-win scenario!”
Based on the winning photos, each brewery will design a unique label with an animal-inspired name, exclusive to each brewery and beer.
Funds raised through the Animals & Ales photo contest will go towards helping dogs, cats, goats, cows, chickens, and more, along with pet guardians and community members, right here in Canada and internationally. Through its team of volunteers and local partners, VWB/VSF offers otherwise inaccessible veterinary services, along with capacity-building animal health training, to communities in need.
Full contest details, including how to enter, can be found here: https://www.vwb.org/site/animals-and-ales. Contest entries open on March 1, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Media contact
Laura Eley
Communications Officer
E: laura@vwb.org
C: +1 343-633-0272
About Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amerique du Nord
Using a One Health approach, VWB/VSF works for, and with, communities in need to foster the health of animals, people and the environments that sustain us. We work in Africa and Asia to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged rural populations through veterinary and agricultural services, sustainable animal production, training, value chain development and sustainable natural resource management. Additionally, we support remote Northern Canadian communities to improve animal health through temporary spay and neuter clinics, reduce the spread of rabies, and work to create the conditions for long-term, community-led sustainable animal health services. VWB/VSF also responds to crises, worldwide, and is currently providing emergency support in Ukraine and South Sudan to address the growing needs of animals and communities. In 2023, VWB/VSF also responded to wildfires in the Northwest Territories and Hawaii.
Learn more at vwb.org
Participating breweries
- Blood Brothers Brewing (Toronto, ON)
Founded in 2016 by Dustin and Brayden Jones, Blood Brothers Brewing is a craft microbrewery, taproom, and restaurant (Beast) in Toronto offering unique beer styles and tasty eats.
Learn more at bloodbrothersbrewing.com
- Fixed Gear Brewing Co. (Guelph, ON)
Fixed Gear Brewing Company is returning to the Animals & Ales contest for its second year! They are a fresh, small batch brewery located in the heart of the Guelph, Ontario’s Junction neighbourhood.
Learn more at fixedgearbrewing.com
- Hell’s Basement Brewery (Medicine Hat, AB)
Since the summer of 2016, six courageous beer lovers from Medicine Hat, their families, friends, and countless members of the community have been working tirelessly to bring fresh, local, craft beer to the Hat.
Learn more at hellsbasement.com
- Landwash Brewery (Mount Pearl, NL)
Known for producing a diverse range of high-quality beers that often reflect the local Newfoundland flavours and ingredients, Landwash Brewery has a taproom where visitors can sample beers, eat awesome food from Johnny and Mae's food truck, and experience the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Learn more at landwashbrewery.com
- NWT Brewing Co. (Yellowknife, NT)
NWT Brewing Company is nestled between the wonder of the aurora borealis and the rugged nature of the northern frontier. Located in the spirited town of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, they are Canada's northernmost brewpub.
Learn more at nwtbrewingco.com
- Storm Stayed Brewing Co. (London, ON)
Storm Stayed Brewing Co. is a small, community-oriented craft brewery in London, Ontario. They believe that it takes more than just quality ingredients, sound science, and innovative techniques to make a brewery special – it also takes a welcoming, inclusive environment, a joyful sense of camaraderie, and the support of their neighbours and fellow craft beer lovers.
Learn more at stormstayed.com
- The Second Wedge Brewing Co. (Uxbridge, ON)
Just over the second wedge of the Oak Ridges Moraine, you’ll find them: a locally owned brewery inspired by the beauty of the Uxbridge trails, dedicated to igniting passion for craft beer in their community and beyond. Their dog-friendly tasting room and award-winning beer garden make The Second Wedge an après-trail destination.
Learn more at thesecondwedge.ca
- Trailway Brewing Co. (Fredericton, NB)
Trailway was founded in 2014 with a passion for hops. Although their interests have broadened in recent years to include styles from wild ales to lagers, they remain committed to producing high-quality, bold, and robust American-style Ales.
Learn more at trailwaybrewing.com
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