When you think of handcrafted Vodka, you probably don’t think of animal rescue. But at the Tito’s Handmade Vodka distillery in Austin, Texas, they are harmoniously entwined.
Tito Beveridge and his employees have rescued about 30 cats and dogs that have wandered onto the distillery grounds. They also partnered with Emancipet, an Austin-based organization devoted to making spay/neuter and preventative veterinary care affordable and accessible to all pet owners, with the launch of the website, VodkaForDogPeople.com.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka, one of the fastest-growing micro-distilleries in the country, is taking action to help Emancipet quickly grow and impact communities around the nation.
“We could not be more excited about this strategic partnership with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. VodkaForDogPeople.com represents years of a deepening partnership between our organizations and a shared passion for making the world better for animals and the people who love them. … To make that big vision come to life, we need partners like Tito’s and innovative ideas like VodkaForDogPeople.com – we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us!” declared Emancipet CEO Amy Mills.
Beveridge’s dedication to Vodka and animal rescue began 16 years ago when he built his micro-distillery on a large open field with his companion Jo, a white German shepherd mix, at his side. The field was also home to many abandoned, stray and feral cats and dogs.
Tito with Stella at the shack. Stella was part of a feral pack of dogs that wandered up to the distillery to have her babies. Tito’s employees took the whole pack in and got them adopted. Stella remained at the offices with one of her babies named Tita.
An archival photo of Tito and DogJo, his dog that was by his side 17 years and in the very early years of the distillery. She is buried there next to the original shack that is still Tito’s office.
Employees also serve as fosters and are inspired to adopt. You can see dogs roaming the marketing office or property, and employees are encouraged to bring their pets to work. There’s even an outside doggy play area.
“Our team feels having their furry companions by their side during the workday contributes to a very productive and happy environment,” said Beth Bellanti at Tito’s Handmade Vodka. “Tito built his distillery with a very beloved dog by his side 16 years ago, and that culture of having dogs around us at Tito’s Handmade Vodka and helping other dogs has always been a comfort.”
To learn more, please visit VodkaForDogPeople.com. Also, on the website, be sure to check out the Tito’s Dog Blog to read about the Tito’s Handmade Vodka distillery and office dogs, as well as the Tito’s team adventures in rescue.
Help Support The Cause
1. Visit www.Emancipet.org.
2. Request information about bringing an Emancipet
clinic to your community.
3. Purchase one of the awesome dog-related
items available on the website. All proceeds will go
towards helping Emancipet make a national impact
in improving the lives of our pets.