A Dog's Latte brews up support for critters in need
CAROLINE LOBSINGER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 5 months AGO
I grew up in the Tri-Cities, Wash., and have always loved to write. I attended the University of Washington, where I earned a double major in journalism and political science, with an area of emphasis in history. I am the fifth out of six kids — don't believe any of the stories that my siblings tell. To be able to tell others stories and take photos for a living is a dream come true — and I considered myself blessed to be a community journalist. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking and spending time outdoors, genealogy, reading, and watching the UW Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks. I am a servant to my cat, Frankie, who yes, will eat anything and everything in sight … even wedding cookies. | December 12, 2021 1:00 AM
Forget it's a dog's life. It's really, A Dog's Latte.
At least if you're a local youngster dedicated to making the world a better place for dogs and cats like Auggie Fisher and his sister, Iylla.
Auggie started the restaurant in his room as a way to raise a little bit of money to help animals in need. A menu sign soon went up, listing the treats available — cheese curds and carrots in the early days, with customers limited to his family and guests.
"If my Poppa were telling the story, he'd say that it all started out with a lemonade stand I made when I was 5 years old," Auggie said.
"In the winter," quickly added Iylla.
Auggie grins in response before adding that the first picture of him at the lemonade stand showed him sitting there. The next showed him drinking the lemonade.
While the lemonade stand didn't stay, Auggie said he was determined to raise money so he could help animals.
"One, I wanted to make a chore fun, you know so I made that," he said. "And number two, I've always been a good cook and I've wanted to, you know, make something and do something like that."
Auggie's admission prompted his sister to nod in agreement before adding her brother is always wanting to help out in the kitchen.
"At home, he's always like Mom, I want to make dinner tonight," Iylla said. "And she's like, nope, not happening."
Auggie grins.
His favorite thing to make is a treat — a house made of grapes and toothpicks — for his brother because it allows him to get creative. "I stack it up and my brother just loves it," Auggie said. "My brother loves fruit so he orders it every time."
"And I always have to pay for it," Iylla interjects, prompting her older brother to remind her that she should make their brother do the requested chore first before giving him the money.
"Next time, he's gonna have to do it first," Iylla agrees.
After starting in his room, A Dog's Latte soon moved to the end of his grandparents' driveway in Sagle. While limited to overnight stays on the weekend, the youth said the area's location and friendly neighbors make it an ideal spot for his restaurant.
He still remembers his first customer at A Dog's Latte. He had spent the night at his grandma's house and had set up the stand and waited for his first customer. When a neighbor stopped by, she asked Auggie for applesauce. Unfortunately, his grandma had just run out. Auggie said he ran into the yard, grabbed some apples and he and his grandma quickly made applesauce.
That night, older neighbors stopped by and ordered baked apples. By the end of the night, Auggie said he'd raised more than $20.
"And so then, I went to the animal shelter one day after school, and I donated all that money," he added. "I donated 60 bucks, and half of it my Poppa donated, which I got to give a big thanks to him."
Naming his restaurant A Dog's Latte was a natural, Auggie said. He loves animals and the stand's proceeds go to help the animal alliance. Add to the fact he "kind of likes coffee" and the idea was born.
"And so I just thought, maybe coffee in the name would sound good so A Dogs's Latte. That's what I made," the youth said. "And now it's now it's a coffee shop at my grandma's house."
Auggie said he doesn't advertise the stand; much of when it's open depends on when he sleeps over at his grandparents' house. As a result, neighbors know to look for the "open" sign and for A Dog's Latte to be set up with its desk and goodies ready for sale, he said.
"The reason I kind of made it was like, I just thought of an idea but then it turned into wanting to earn money for donations … and, yeah, that's how that's how it works," Auggie said.
From baked apples and baked treats to taffy, cheese curds and more, Auggie said he loves making his customers happy — but more importantly, raising money to donate to the animal alliance.
While he doesn't make the taffy, Auggie said he loves to cook and bake, tapping into recipes from his grandma, who used to be a professional baker.
At first, A Dog's Latte was a one-man restaurant but then as it got busier and busier, Auggie turned to his sister Iylla for help.
"Because he's so busy and then he was, 'Could you please really help me and kept begging,' Iylla said.
"I didn't keep begging," Auggie is quick to interject.
"Well, you didn't beg," Iylla agreed. "He just kept asking me and I was like, finally I was like, fine, but you're gonna have to pay me and then he's like, 'Nope, you're giving the money to me.' "
"I did not," Auggie again interjects.
"Yes, you were," Iylla responds. "And so at first I thought he just wanted all the money. I was like, 'Don't I earn something.' And he's like, 'No, no, no, it's called A Dog's Latte. Not The Latte.' I was like, 'Oh, so what are you doing with this money?' And he's like, 'We're donating it to the animal shelter.' So then I was like, Okay, fine. I'll help."
At first, he considered raising money for veterinarians, but decided the animal alliance was a better fit. That way, he could help the most pets have a better life, Auggie said.
"A month after I got my cat, I just thought [of] that because if they don't have any medical stuff or food for them, or if they're gonna run out of it," Auggie said. " So I thought maybe I could do that. I mean, it's not every day that you can look somebody up and they run a charity for an animal shelter."
He loves animals, and said black labs are a favorite.
"So I thought maybe we could do something good for the dogs and cats — that's what I thought maybe that's what I could do," Auggie said.
His decision likely stems from the fact her brother knew the animals needed help and didn't take no for an answer, Iylla said.
"It was probably because he knew they needed help. And like, so he wanted some way to earn money … and he just started making the business," she said. "I was like, 'Wow, I did not think it was gonna turn out like this.' I thought it was just gonna be like, like, a couple people, and no more; like a lemonade stand but instead he earned a lot of money. I was like, wow, that's actually pretty darn good for boy his age."
In the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday, Better Together Animal Alliance officials heard about A Dog's Latte and invited the Fishers to temporarily relocate the restaurant to Better Together Animal Alliance on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30. Auggie and his family got busy, baking up enough treats and sweets to meet the anticipated demand.
At first they thought there would be more than enough treats to go around, but it turned out to be just enough since so many people turned out for the event, Auggie said.
From animal alliance supporters to friends of his mom to teachers from Selle Valley Carden School, where he and Iylla go, Auggie said the crowd responded well to A Dog's Latte.
Popcorn balls turned out to be a hit among younger fans while chocolate chip and sugar cookies on a stick — decorated with a cat's face — also were popular.
Overall, BTAA raised $6,960 on Giving Tuesday with Auggie’s cafe, A Dog’s Latte, contributing $935 of that ($1,870 if you include the match for his donation), BTAA officials said.
"Our matching donor was so inspired by Auggie’s efforts that they decided to increase their matching donation from $5,000 to $7,000," Andrea Nagel, BTAA director of storytelling and partnerships, said.
Seeing the efforts of Auggie and Iylla was inspiring, said the alliance's executive director, Mandy Evans.
"Seeing a young person be so engaged in philanthropy and helping our four-legged friends is so encouraging," Evans said. "Our team was inspired by not only Auggie's efforts but also the number of people who came to support A Dog's Latte and animals in our community."
Future plans for A Dog's Latte include a continued presence at its standard location — and a future visit to the animal shelter in 2022 on Giving Tuesday. Auggie said he plans to continue donating the money raised by the restaurant to the animal alliance to help as many animals as he can.
While he isn't sure, future plan may include opening his own "big restaurant" some day — or working part-time at the animal alliance and running the restaurant on the side, Auggie said.
"Well, if I don't run a restaurant, maybe I'll go fly up in a bush plane to Kodiak, Alaska," he added.
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