September 11th, 2012 
“A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things — a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”
– John Grogan, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog
Photo Credit: Facebook
If you’ve ever fallen in love with Marley and wish you had your own, then turning to Hard Luck Hounds just might be your answer. Hard Luck Hounds – a last-chance adoption program of Friends of Austin Animal Center – finds dogs from shelters that have been overlooked for quite some time to help them find a happy home. In an article from CultureMap Austin, David Pasztor, the coordinator of the program, explains, “These are the dogs that are a little too old, or some have medical issues, or are not really cute, or have behavior issues.” And with enough time, these oddball pups could be put down. However, Hard Luck Hounds takes the dogs in and waives standard adoption fees for prospective owners who want to give them a home. In addition, the program will also pay for training or vet care if the dog has behavior or medical issues. They started last September with an adoption goal of 58 dogs and has since more than doubled the number, saving 125 dogs!
Photo Credit: Facebook
Even if you can’t adopt a dog right now (or if you can), you can still support Hard Luck Hounds by playing with the puppies at a Happy Hour benefit this Saturday, September 15 at House Wine. Come and have yourself a fabulous time at this contemporary, casual wine bar. There will be a special drink menu consisting of cucumber mojitos, citrus sangrias, and delicious wine-based Red Electra snow cones to enjoy. There will also be wine specials – $5 per glass and $18 per bottle. And to top it all off, Ken Linsk and Juliette Buck will be playing on the musical stage, bringing plenty of style to the event! And if you already have your own dog, be sure to bring him or her prepared for a costume contest in honor of election year. Prizes will be given out to the best-dressed canines with elephant/donkey neck ties, silver spoons hanging off of their mouths, a “Blue Dog Democrat” get-up, or whatever else you might think of!
WHEN: Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE:
House Wine
408 Josephine St.
Austin, TX 78704
Ph. 512-322-5210
TICKETS: Free Admission
