Sarah HendersonPMississippi MUTTS will introduce its new event, Yappy Hour, tonight from 4 to 6 p.m. in Cabin 82 of The Graduate Oxford. Tonight and the third Monday of every month going forward, there is an open invitation to all dog lovers within the Oxford community.
Mississippi MUTTS facilitates the homing of animals in Mississippi with the goal of alleviating animal overpopulation in shelters. A portion of proceeds collected at Yappy Hour will benefit the charity, and those donations will be put toward foster animals’ medical emergencies and supplies that foster homes need to care for the animals.
Emma Heasley, the charity’s developmental director, said she’s excited to see the fellowship of the Oxford community at the event.
“Mississippi MUTTS is so looking forward to interacting with Oxford community members because (the) majority of our support comes from them and their donations,” Heasley said. “We can’t wait to spend time with these individuals and their animals at Yappy Hour.”
Heasley said Yappy Hour is intended to bring the local community together to fundraise and form relationships over a common goal.
Meghan Titus, the event coordinator for Mississippi MUTTS, said she is looking forward to the inaugural event.
“Because it’s our first ever Yappy Hour, we don’t know how many guests and furry friends to expect, but we are hoping that all attendees with dogs bring them,” Titus said. “If guests don’t own a dog, we will have foster puppies there as well.”
Each Yappy Hour will feature complimentary appetizers and dog-themed cocktails for guests, as well as treats for four-legged friends.
“We can’t disclose the names of our dog-themed cocktails, but they will be fun and creative, so make sure to come find out,” Titus said. She added that applications to be foster animals will also be available to attendees.
Megan McNabb, a junior integrated marketing communication major who plans to attend the event, said that it’s not uncommon for people who foster animals to fall in love with their temporary pets enough to make them permanent ones. She came across a Mississippi MUTTS Facebook post expressing a need for additional fosters and ended up fostering two dogs at once.
“I had the best experience fostering through this organization,” McNabb said. “I ended up adopting one of the puppies I was fostering, and my twin sister adopted the other puppy. Mississippi MUTTS helped me find my forever furry friend.”
