Barks and Brews

The Outlets at Traverse Mountain in Lehi celebrated National Dog Day last Saturday, August 26, with brewed sodas from Strap Tank Brewing Co. and dogs of every size, shape, and color.

The Outlets at Traverse Mountain is a dog-friendly mall every day, but on National Dog Day there were tents set up along the outdoor promenade where people could meet dogs who were placed for adoption. Several dog-related businesses also had tents, including one with a display of tempting dog cakes.

Strap Tank Brewing Co. serving up brewed sodas – even Huckleberry flavored! | Photo by Nicole Kunze

Rescue Rovers is a foster home-based, non-profit rescue and transport organization. They brought about a dozen of their dogs who are currently in foster care to Barks and Brews. Rescue Rovers has foster homes where their rescued dogs live until they are adopted. “We know the dogs’ personalities because they’ve lived in homes. We can tell potential owners how one of our dogs gets along with small children or other dogs,” said Matt Moody, one of Rescue Rover’s volunteers. His wife, Amanda Moody, is the Adoptions Coordinator for Rescue Rovers.

With so many dog lovers at the outlet mall on Saturday, Rescue Rovers found homes for some of their dogs and they signed up new foster homes for rescued dogs. Rescue Rovers operates out of an 18 passenger van that they drive to shelters all over the West, literally rescuing dogs. They get many of their dogs from New Mexico where shelters only hold dogs for 48 hours before they are euthanized. If you want to volunteer for or donate to Rescue Rovers, contact them at www.rescuerovers.org.

The “Brews” portion of the Barks and Brews event showcased some of the unique soda flavors brewed at the Springville-based Strap Tank Brewing Co. They were set up in a vacant store where people (and their dogs) could come in and sample sodas like “Jackson Ginger,” “High Mountain Huckleberry” and “Cowboy Cream Soda.” Strap Tank Brewing Co. is the first soda brewery in Utah County and they’ll be opening a shop in Lehi in the Spring of 2018.

The National Dog Day event at the Outlets at Traverse Mountain also included live bands, face painting, and food trucks.

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