Lamplighter's Spring Craft Beer and Food Pairing to Benefit Save-A-Pet

Do you love pets?

How about beer and food?

If yes, then is you. The April 16 event will benefit in Grayslake. The cost of caring for the animals, some of whom may never be adopted, can be staggering.

“If an animal is healthy, it costs about $1,000 a year for their care, but costs will go up due to health issues and because we are a no-kill facility,” said Marc Portugal, development manager for Save-A-Pet.  

The goal of the organization is to find adoptive homes for the animals in their care, but that isn’t always possible. Animals for which homes are not found live out their days at the Grayslake facility.  

Save-A-Pet also works to increase awareness of the humane treatment of animals.  

“On average, we rescue more than 1,000 animals every year,” Portugal said. “The cost for basic intake, which includes vaccinations, spading and neutering starts at around $200, so that puts us at around $200,000 per year just to get the animals in the door.”

Palatine-based held a fundraiser for Save-A-Pet in October 2010. Lisa Bellanca, who has owned Lamplighter's with her husband Frank since 1975, said the first fundraiser sold out quickly and $3,000 was raised for Save-A-Pet.

“Last year with the economy, I knew Save-A-Pet was having financial struggles, and there was a question if they could even stay open,” Lisa Bellanca said.

“We were happy to put together a second fundraiser; everyone learned something and had a great time, so we decided to have another one,” Bellanca added.

Bellanca knows the organization first-hand because she is a certified dog-walker for them and also is an animal lover.

Tickets are $25 and going fast, and include a number of spring craft beer selections from breweries such as Goose Island, Blue Moon, K. Spoetzel, BridgePort and Leinenkugel.

Deep fried apple wontons, chipotle pork and a variety of vegetarian food selections will round out the tastings, and education about how to pair different beers and foods will be provided.

An acoustic guitar performance also will provide a festive background during the event.

“We give every animal presented to us the greatest opportunity for a second chance, and many of the animals that may be sick will go home eventually,” said Portugal.

“We can’t put a price on giving families back their beloved pets,” Portugal added.

This event is for individuals 21 years of age or older.

For more information, visit the Lamplighters website at lamplighters.com or call 847-202-8814 to order tickets.

For additional information about Save-A-Pet, visit saveapetil.org.