Local Brewery Supports Animal Shelter

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – A local businessman has recently begun supporting the Animal Shelter Society by baking pet treats from spent grains and is planning to incorporate product labels featuring shelter animals. 

Y-Bridge Brewing Company Master Brewer Ray Ballard told us about how the relationship between the brewery and the Animal Shelter began.

“It was a combination of a couple of events. First, we had our beer at their Barktoberfest, last October. Then I was thinking about getting a cat for the brewery,” Ballard said. “There was a cat named Rossi there, who had these really nice Bengal type stripes and she just really caught my eye.”

Ballard adopted Rossi from the shelter and made her the mascot for the Little Suzy Seltzer, which he makes and sells at his brewery.

Animal Shelter Society General Manager April Cohagen-Gibson is grateful to all the various partnerships in the community that help support the shelter.

“But when Ray got involved with us you could see his compassion when he came through the door,” Cohagen-Gibson said. “But the fact that he also adopted. He adopted a cat that nobody else wanted.” “The fact that he takes time out of his busy schedule from running a local business to assist us means a great deal to me, my staff, and my board of directors, but most importantly, to my animals.”

Ballard is developing dog and cat treats from grains leftover from the brewing process and is donating his creations to the Animal Shelter Society.