A dog-friendly fundraiser held July 25 at Slow & Low BBQ in Viera benefited Mid Florida Sheltie Rescue, a nonprofit that places neglected, abused, or abandoned shelties. The event, called Yappy Hour, ran from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the restaurant’s patio. Attendees included leashed, vaccinated pets and volunteers from the rescue group, which operates entirely on donations.
Barbara Davis, founder of Mid Florida Sheltie Rescue, said the event helped highlight the rescue’s work. Several shelties in attendance had been adopted through the group, including Toby, a 7-year-old dog still available for adoption at the time of the event. Davis held Toby during the gathering, which featured raffles, bingo games, and a 50/50 drawing.
The fundraiser also included pet food donations for Skipper’s Snack Shack, a local program that provides food to pet owners in need. Cali, another sheltie available for adoption, was photographed during the event. Volunteers emphasized that all animals at the gathering had been spayed, neutered, and vaccinated as part of the rescue’s adoption process.
Slow & Low BBQ owner Tim Shortt said the restaurant regularly hosts community events. The Yappy Hour was the first of several planned fundraisers for Mid Florida Sheltie Rescue this year. The rescue group relies on such events to cover medical costs and shelter expenses for the dogs it places.