INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — ARPO is set to host its third annual Whiskey & Whiskers fundraiser on Saturday at 24 Shelby in the Fletcher Place neighborhood of downtown Indianapolis. This event combines animal rescue efforts with craft cocktails and comfort food, allowing guests to sample whiskey, enjoy dining options, meet adoptable pets, and support the organization.

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The event schedule is as follows:

- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3

- Location: 24 Shelby, Fletcher Place

- VIP experience: 2:30-4 p.m.

- General admission: 4-7 p.m.

- Age restrictions: Family-friendly; guests must be 21 or older for alcohol tastings.

This year marks the inaugural event at the historic 24 Shelby, a former brewery prior to Prohibition. Lori White of ARPO emphasized the importance of community support for the organization, which has been operational since its founding in 1998.

Guests will experience whiskey tastings featuring selections from Buffalo Trace, Sazerac, and Sugarlands, alongside brews from Sun King Brewery and St. Elmo’s Barkeep. Signature cocktails include the “Wake Up Whiskers,” crafted with cold brew coffee, butter pecan sipping cream, and hazelnut rum.

The food offerings will feature a pasta bar with garlic Parmesan chicken and a Mediterranean platter. VIP guests will have access to additional culinary delights, including crispy pork belly with peach mostarda and bourbon maple glaze, plus roasted pear with pistachio-crusted goat cheese.

Attendees will have the chance to meet adoptable cats and dogs throughout the event, with opportunities for kitten therapy sessions. A new attraction, the Pawparazzi Red Carpet Dog Showcase, will also take place, highlighting dogs looking for permanent homes. Families can enjoy a Mini PurrCon pop-up, offering cat-themed crafts, musical cat boxes, coloring activities, and bracelet making.

The evening will conclude with a silent auction, contributing to ARPO’s mission to provide medical care for rescued animals. One such success is Stanley, a nearly six-week-old kitten found under a fallen tree, who is among those expected to be adoptable by mid- to late October.

Tickets for VIP, general admissions, and designated drivers can be purchased at arporescue.org.