2018 April PASO Magazine

Wine
[
We know that our area
holds more fundraisers
than just about anyplace.
All of them, big or small,
do so much good for our community.
Wine 4 Paws is undoubtedly near
the top of the list that people wait for
each year. It’s a sponsorship for Woods
Humane Society and it is always orchestrated
by Sarah Tomasetti, her
husband Steve, and some fifteen volunteers.
This is their 10th year — April
7 and 8, 2018!
When the Paso couple was enjoying
local wine on their back patio and
watching their dogs playing in the
yard, they decided they wanted to do
something that would combine both
the love of pets and Paso area wine.
Woods was their choice to help out.
A weekend event began as an idea to
4 Paws
APRIL 7 AND 8
get wineries and locals involved for
the benefit of helping Woods maintain
its excellence in dog adoptions.
In the first year, 35 wineries participated
and each year, more and more
joined in to help the cause. This year
there are ‘just shy’ of one hundred
wineries signed on to participate!
Earth and Fire Brewing Co. in
Paso and Olivas de Oro olive oil
in Creston are also in on the action.
Templeton’s Las Tablas Animal
Hospital is the main eventsponsor
for the weekend.
If you’ve recently moved here or
have been in a news-free cave for the
last ten years, here’s what happens:
wineries, during a specific weekend in
April, take a portion of their tasting
fees or profits (sometimes 100%) and
donate them to Woods. Folks out for
[
By Chuck Desmond
SARAH AND STEVE WITH DOGS, DINKY AND TATER
wine tasting or purchasing during that
weekend can also contribute into donation
jars as added help. For many of
us, wine is as necessary in our homes
as tri-tip and salsa. We know we’re going
to go tasting; we know we’re going
to buy wine; we know we’re going to
enjoy it. The official opening of BBQ
season is 30 days away and this weekend
is the perfect opportunity to be
ready to party and do some fabulous
good at the same time. Some people
buy month’s worth of their wine because
they know that the more they
buy, the more they help the cause and
they happy to do it!
The good residents of El Paso de
Robles and surrounding hamlets love
our pets. Sometimes it seems close-tosinful
if a home doesn’t have a couple
ol’ rescue dogs on the porch and at least
one cat in a basket in a sunny window.
There are super-fine animal adoption
places in the county and Woods collaborates
with them for the betterment
of all animals. Woods is special.
It’s a non-profit, is not part of SLO
Animal Services but sits side-byside
with it on Oklahoma Ave. in
SLO. The two organizations have a
wonderful hand-shake agreement.
Since Woods began, they have performed
over 3,500 spay/neuter pro-
cedures as well as countless classes
on animal behavior and pet training
for owners. With the merger of the
Atascadero shelter (2300 Ramona
Rd.) into the fold, Woods now covers
both dogs and cats. Just last year,
there were 2,500 adoptions at Woods.
Isn’t that just staggeringly wonderful!
It’s easy to imagine the costs to
successfully run such an operation.
Medicines, surgery costs, newspapers,
cages, food, rags, electricity and supplies
add up quickly. Ms. Jill Tucker
is Woods’ Executive Director and it’s
hard to put into words how thankful
she is for this fundraising event. Last
year was $45,000!
Wine4Paws.com has all the info.
Print out a map of the participating
wineries and a passport to enter drawings
for great prizes. Friday night,
April 6, there will be a 5 to 9 p.m.
party at Leondusac tasting-room in
Tin City with wine and food by Chef
Weisinger. Wine Country Troubadours
will provide live music.
How about a sobering thought? A
full 50 percent of all animals turned in
or surrendered to Woods come from
North County. Go wine tasting, buy
your favorites, and in the process,
smile at the good deed you are doing
while having a great time!
18 PASO Magazine, April 2018