I had the pleasure of drinking myself to a better conscience as animal lovers gathered together on Sunday 2nd of September to drink for a cause! A Beer for a Stray is a collaboration between Let’s Adopt! Indonesia (LAI) and Alcoholics Bar & Grill. This annual event was initiated by the owners of Alcoholics, Judith and Patrick Gunadi, who are huge supporters of LAI. LAI is a non-profit organisation that works under the umbrella of Let’s Adopt! Global, an international group of animal rescuers based in Turkey.
LAI is currently focused on educating people of the importance in spaying and neutering pets to prevent overpopulation which often leads to owners giving away and getting rid of excess pets and furthermore promoting “pet adoption” amongst Indonesian families – Don’t breed and buy while homeless die, adopt! True to all animal organisations they continue fighting against animal cruelty and exploitation as well as putting a stop to discrimination of domestic animals – all breeds of dogs and cats are deemed equal in life.
Carolina Fajar, the founder of LAI explains that unlike other animal rescue organisations, LAI’s unbiased approach helps animals deemed ‘unrehomable’ due to their impure breed, health and disabilities. LAI helps the animals that other organisations find too challenging. Rescue activities and updates are promptly posted on LAI’s Facebook page where you can see the great work and progress that Carolina and her team do by rehabilitating the lives of our four legged friends. Calls and emails from people help locate the animals waiting to be rescued. Carol adds that all LAI staff will never turn a blind eye should they come across a furry friend in need.
One hundred percent of beer sales and twenty percent of all other sales was donated to LAI to raise funds which cover the costs of medical treatment, neutering and rescue efforts. Judith, Patrick and their friends Clarissa and Bastian collectively donated 300 bottles of beer. DJ Asking, DJ Romeo and DJ Jeffry volunteered their time and did what they do best until around 8pm when Patrick took to the decks. The fundraiser started at 3pm and after forty-five minutes it was not uncommon to have already had your third drink. Knowing that a drink was going to a good cause gave us the perfect reason and rationale to drink more than we maybe should have on a Sunday afternoon. You could not find a more fitting venue to promote drinking in the name of charity than a restaurant named Alcoholics which most certainly gave us the encouragement we did not need to drink and be merry amongst friends.