Carabao Brewing, animal rescue group HEART helping animals in need

If you've been to Carabao Brewing in Hagatna, you may have seen owner Anna Johnson's two friendly dogs she brings to work everyday. They're rescue boonies she adopted from the Happily Ever After Rescue Team (HEART).  The brewery has been working with the volunteer animal rescue group, helping to raise funds so they can continue to help stray animals in need.

Since Carabao Brewing opened up shop in 2019, Johnson has seen her fair share of stray animals near the downtown business, hungry for love and care.  "The island of Guam has a very large pet population with strays - cats and dogs," she explained. "So for us, it's very important to help those strays, whether it be through spay and neuter or foster and adoption. So it's really important for us to help those animals that are in need."

It’s why they’re working together with HEART, a volunteer-driven animal rescue group.  Vice president of HEART Lena Leishman told KUAM News, "We started out doing a little bit of rescue and we’ve kind of grown a little bit more. So we occasionally find stray animals and help find them homes. Then we also put any donations and funding through to help support other community members who does rescues."

Through community support, Carabao Brewing recently donating over $1,000 to the rescue group.  HEART makes tye-dye shirts promoting animal welfare to raise funds and Carabao sells them at their brewery. "It’s great, we can do great things with that donation," added Leishman.

From spaying and neutering, to fostering and adoption. It helps them rescue boonies in need of a home like Iggy and Roy. Iggy was rescued from the Back Road to Andersen in Mangilao and Roy from a Yona neighborhood.  Both dogs were found severely emaciated.  

They’ve since recovered after finding a forever home with Johnson. 

"I call him my chunky monkey," said Johnson. "He was 9 pounds when he was found. He’s now 30."

But there’s countless more four legged friends in need of a home, like Gadao, who’s healing from a broken elbow. It’s why Carabao Brewing and heart are asking the community for their assistance. 

"HEART is always looking for donations. They can be made here at Carabao Brewing. They can be made online. So I definitely encourage people to help with the spaying, neutering, fostering and adoption of these stray babies," said Johnson.

Carabao will have a donation box where customers can donate pet supplies.  You can also make a monetary contribution through PayPal at [email protected].