HeidiTown Gives Back: NMDR and Hops & Harley

For the first time ever, the recipient of this month’s HeidiTown Gives Back Campaign has been previously featured. I don’t make a habit of featuring charities twice, but National Mill Dog Rescue has touched my heart and I have become involved in helping with a NMDR fundraiser that is slated for later this month.

Hops & Harley 2014 logo

For those of you who may be new to this little town, HeidiTown Gives Back is a program I started way back in January of 2012. Every month, I pick a Colorado-based nonprofit to receive a free, one month ad, and a blog post, here on HeidiTown.com.

You can read my original post about NMDR, a Colorado Springs based nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes retired commercial breeding dogs from puppy mills, HERE.

Harley and his dog mom. Hops & Harley June 2014 HeidiTown
Harley and his dog mom at Hops & Harley in 2013. Photo used with permission from City Star’s Facebook page.

A tiny, one-eyed Chihuahua named Harley has become the ambassador for NMDR. The first 10 years of Harley’s life were spent in a filthy cage at a puppy mill where his job was to produce cute little Chihuahua puppies to be sold at pet stores across the country. The mill dogs receive no medical attention and eye injuries are common as cages are often cleaned using a power washer without removing the dogs.

Last June, one of my favorite breweries, City Star, hosted Hops & Harley,  a  fundraiser for National Mill Dog Rescue. The event was a huge success and this year the organizers have moved the fest outdoors to better accommodate the crowds.

Hops & Harley in 2013 at City Star Brewing. HeidiTown.com
Hops & Harley 2013. Photo courtesy of City Star Brewing.

Hops & Harley takes place on Sunday, June 29 from 11 to 5 p.m. under the shade of the enormous trees in Fickel Park in Berthoud, Colorado. This event is a chance for the public to meet Harley, enjoy a City Star beer, listen to live music, chow down on delicious fare from the Oskar Blues’ CHUBurger Bonewagon Food Truck, learn about NMDR and buy Hops & Harley souvenirs in the form of t-shirts and glassware.

Best of all? 100% of the proceeds from this event go to National Mill Dog Rescue. Not 5%, not 10%, not 25%, but ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.

That’s why I wanted to highlight this event here on HeidiTown, and give them a free ad this month. Plus, drinking for a good cause is something I always endorse.

Colorado is a dog-friendly state, but people still buy puppies from pet stores every day. It’s an educational process and that’s what NMDR is all about. Puppy mills are terrifying places, and shouldn’t be legal anywhere. It’s my hope that this event will educate a few more people who will then help spread the news to their friends and family.

I hope to see you at Hops & Harley on June 29!!!

National Mill Dog Rescue online

National Mill Dog Rescue on Facebook

#NoPuppyMills

1 Comment


  1. What a great program to help! I am in love with my new rescued Shih tzu. He puts a smile on my face through out the day. My German Shepherd rescue who we have had for 10 years is also my constant companion. I am blessed by my two rescued puppies. Love them so much.

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