PONDERAY — Come for the raffle prizes, leave with a fur-ever friend at Better Together Animal Alliance’s adoption events in Ponderay and Sandpoint the next two weeks.

“We're excited to host some adoption events this summer and hopefully find some great homes for our adoptable pets,” Andrea Nagel, BTAA director of storytelling and partnerships, said.

This Saturday, June 22, head to the BTAA shelter in Ponderay to enjoy Whiskers and Wags, in partnership with C6-Zero, which turns asphalt shingles into carbon-negative products.

Meet the many pets eagerly awaiting a new home while learning about the various animal resources available throughout the community.

“It's a family-friendly adoption event and open house with raffle prizes and food trucks,” Nagel said. “We're not reducing adoption rates for either event, but several of our longer-stay pets' adoption fees are sponsored by the community already, so those fees are waived for adopters. C6-Zero has been a great partner to work with and we're thrilled to invite the community to this event.”

A raffle giveaway will also be held at the event, which will last from noon to 4 p.m.

Next Saturday, June 29, head to Utara Brewing Co. in Sandpoint for another adoption event and fundraiser. This event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m.

Adoptable pets will be at the brewery to melt the hearts of potential forever families. Activities can be entered for $10 each with chances to win an assortment of prizes.

Join in a contest to try and guess the brewery owners’ dogs’ breeds — who were recently DNA tested — and be entered to win over $700 in additional prizes. The first place winner will receive an Utara Mug Club membership until September 2025, a $200 gift card and an embroidered brewer shirt with the winner’s name. Second place will also receive a membership until September 2025, a $100 gift card, and a custom embroidered brewer shirt. A membership and custom brewer shirt will also go to the third place winner, along with a $50 gift card.

David Kosiba and Christina Stecher, owners of Utara Brewing Co., are proud supporters of BTAA and have personally adopted multiple pets from the shelter, Nagel said. Currently, they share their home with two dogs and two cats, and they are excited to reveal their dogs’ DNA test results at the event.

“We’re passionate about the mission of Better Together Animal Alliance and the incredible work they do,” Kosiba said. “This event is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, have fun and support a great cause.”

All proceeds from the event and fundraiser will directly benefit the animal shelter.

Better Together Animal Alliance is located at 870 Kootenai Cutoff Rd. in Ponderay. Utara Brewing Co. is located at 214 Pine St. in Sandpoint.