Dog advocacy group's bingo fundraiser draws full house at Rock Solid Brewing Co.

BALL GROUND — Georgia Dog Advocates filled Rocksolid Brewing Co. on Sunday afternoon for a bingo and silent auction fundraiser, with organizers nearly reaching their $5,000 goal for the group's spay and neuter program.

Bingo cards sold for $5 and 20 raffle tickets for $20. A sign at the door said 100 percent of proceeds go to the dogs. Ball Ground Tavern delivered food to the brewery during the event.

It was the ninth bingo the group has held, according to founder Lisa Pelletier. Georgia Dog Advocates runs at least two a year.

"My goal is $5,000," Pelletier said. "We want people to spread the word — awareness, education." The organization raised $4,715, which Pelletier considers a success.

Organizers ran trivia questions about the group's work between bingo rounds, a test, Pelletier said, of "how much people know about what we do."

The Ball Ground-based nonprofit has operated for about 20 years and received its 501(c)(3) status in 2022. It works across North Georgia, and its stated mission is to cultivate compassion and responsibility within communities through basic provisions, education, spay/neuter, and outreach.

The group does not rehome dogs. Its aim is to keep dogs in the homes they already have.

Pelletier said, "Half a million dogs have been killed in shelters over the past couple of years. We want to keep dogs out of shelters, and we want to keep them in their loving homes."

Georgia Dog Advocates reaches owners through monthly food pantries in lower-income neighborhoods, distributing food, treats, supplies and equipment, and trimming nails.

"We get our foot in the door by giving them food," Pelletier said. "And then we get that person kind of hooked, and we try to get their dog fixed."

Owners pay a $50 non-refundable deposit that is applied to the cost of the procedure. Georgia Dog Advocates covers the remaining $200 to $300. The group fixed 15 dogs the previous Thursday and has arranged spay or neuter surgery for more than 1,200 dogs since it started, including roughly 90 this year.

Its other programs include dog transports, preventative care assistance, shelter advocacy, and training assistance for owners whose dogs have behavior problems, which helps prevent shelter surrenders.

Several dogs at the event wore Georgia Dog Advocates vests, including a Great Dane named Willie Nelson. Another, a pit bull named Aries, was adopted at the event through Fulton County Animal Services after being held for more than two years as evidence in a court case.

Debby Ciccone, who volunteers with Rotary collecting pet food for a local food pantry, said she adopted a dog at last year's bingo and named him Dobby.

"When people are down on their luck, they shouldn't have to get rid of their pets," Ciccone said. "So anything that helps support pets, we are totally down to help."

Jessica Long was the first bingo winner of the evening, winning a $25 Amazon gift card. Raffle winners were drawn beginning at 5:30 p.m.; winners had to be present.

Lisa Pelletier says they will return closer to the holiday season to take festive photos for dog owners.

Georgia Dog Advocates is online at gadogadvocates.org, Facebook, and Instagram. They currently accept donations at their website. Pelletier said email at gadogadvocates@gmail.com is the best way to reach the group.