Rescue Brew cans from the first contest in 2020 | file photo

It’s time again to start the process of picking two new pet stars to go on cans of the Charleston Animal Society’s annual Rescue Brew.

Nominations are now open for 2023 spokescat and 2023 spokesdog in the local nonprofit’s fourth annual Rescue Brew Beer contest. To participate this year, submit a photo of your pet to CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/RescueBrew and outline why your pet deserves to win before nominations close Aug. 14. Nominations, which cost $10 each, help to support the society’s wide array of programs.  

Pet owners entered more than 700 dogs and cats in last year’s contest. The winning spokescat and spokesdog will appear on cans of 2023 Rescue Brew Beer by Palmetto Brewing Company.  

Voting starts Aug. 15

Starting Aug. 15, people can vote at $1 per ballot for their favorites through Sept. 14. The top three vote-getters for cats and dogs will be named finalists and a panel of judges from sponsors will decide the winners in each category. 

Charleston Animal Society will announce winners in October and the 2023 Rescue Brew Beer will be available in the fall, just in time for the holidays.  

“I had a lot of fun with the voting phase, calling up friends and family, sending emails, and posting my favorite Mr. T moments on Facebook,” said Catherine Brack, proud owner of 2020 Spokescat Winner, Mr. T. “It all led up to the last night of voting, where I hosted all of my friends and made our final votes to win it all for Mr. T!”

Sponsors of this year’s contest include the brewer, Palmetto Brewing Company, as well as the Charleston City Paper, WCSC Live 5 News and Southern Crown.

“We are honored to be a part of this program for a fourth year — it has been an amazing opportunity to give back to the community and show our passion for a common cause,” said Ian Berg, vice president of commercial operations for Palmetto Brewing Company.

Andy Brack, the City Paper’s editor and publisher, said the newspaper was honored again to be involved with the contest.

“Not only is this a fun way to celebrate and enjoy pets in our lives, but it highlights the importance of the organization’s work as the statewide leader in No Kill South Carolina — its effort to save every healthy and treatable animal in the Palmetto State,” he said. “We’re lucky to have an organization of this caliber in South Carolina and we’re looking forward to toasting it with another round of Rescue Brews.”

In 2022, there were a record number of 709 entrants, which raised $81,699 for Charleston Animal Society’s No Kill South Carolina initiative, helping make our state a friendlier place for animals.


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