If there’s anything that Nedheads love more than beer and bluegrass, it’s animals; and anything involving the combination of the three is just quintessentially Nederland. And that’s exactly what took place on Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Very Nice Brewing Company. Great beer was served while the NoGo Gillbillies played and furry friends roamed the floor, hoping for any snacks to fall, during a collaborative fundraising event for Gilpin Grateful Acres and Mountain Paws Pet Care Fund.

“It doesn’t matter where you came from, we’re just grateful that you’re here,” is the motto that Grateful Acres owners Abby and Adam Pause live by, as their non-profit ten-acre animal sanctuary will always be a safe place for surrendered companion animals to be rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed. Abby and Adam also own and operate Nederland Feed and Pet, providing Nederland with their years of combined animal experience and expertise.

Grateful Acres is raising funds to enhance their facilities in order to host more educational programs on animal care and behavior, guided goat and llama trail walks, and animal meet-and-greets to learn about their behavior, natural habitat, and needs.

Mountain Paws is a non-profit organization that offers eligible Peak to Peak pet owners who may be financially challenged with assistance on veterinary costs for urgent medical pet care. The organization was formed by Ginger Baer and other like-minded animal lovers, including staff from Nederland Veterinary Hospital and Peak to Peak Animal Hospital, in order to address the need for financial assistance for pet owners, especially when faced with sudden illness or injury.

Baer, along with fellow Mountain Paws volunteers Roxanne O’Connell and Jennifer Richards Wood were present, along with the Pauses, for the well-attended fundraising event. The organizations offered attendees a plethora of hors d’oeuvres, from fresh basil, tomato, and mozzarella skewers, to vienna sausages and rolled sandwiches, as well as fresh lemon, mixed berry, and peanut butter bar pastries contributed by Peace, Love, and Cake.

A silent auction was also held, providing attendees with the chance to win many different prizes donated by local businesses and artists, including copies of local author Geno Kennedy’s books, gift baskets full of pet toys and accessories, a variety of animal food and even a dog bed from Nederland Feed and Pet, and a prize ukulele from Brightwood Music.

Local favorites NoGo Gillbillies always bring a good crowd, and Sunday was no different as the Gillbillies plucked out some classic bluegrass tunes and even brought up some extra accompaniment from the crowd to join them.

Very Nice’s taproom was wall to wall with people who all gathered for a common purpose, to show appreciation to those who put our beloved pets and animals above all other things, because they know how our animals provide us with never-ending love and affection.

For more information on Grateful Acres check out their website at: https:// www.gratefulacres.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GratefulAcres721.

For more information on Mountain Paws Pet Care Fund check out their website at: https://www.mtnpaws.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ MountainPawsPetCareFundInc?mibextid= LQQJ4d