Photos courtesy of Tito's Vodka
Twenty-five years ago, Tito’s Handmade Vodka was just starting out in Austin, Texas, and founder Tito Beveridge was burning the candle at both ends to get his new company off the ground. During those hours spent formulating America’s smoothest vodka and navigating the ins and outs of a new industry, Tito was kept in high spirits by his own pup, DogJo. The pair spent day in, and day out at the distillery together. Tito, loving his own four-legged friend, knew there was more he could do to help other animals near and far.
Since the very beginning, the Tito’s team has had a special soft spot for dogs. Fans of Tito’s Handmade Vodka have flocked to the brand not just because of the quality of the spirit, but because of their shared love for dogs and passion for animal rescue and care organizations.
Over the years, Tito’s has expanded their work through Vodka for Dog People, the philanthropic arm of the brand that is dedicated to bettering the lives of pets and their families far and wide. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), around “6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year.” To help these millions of animals get the love and care they need, Vodka for Dog People participates in over 3,000 annual dog-related sponsorships, events, and campaigns, plus they support animal rescue nonprofits at the local level all around the country.
Here in Minnesota, Vodka for Dog People has made notable contributions to several animal protection organizations and nonprofits, including the Minnesota Basset Rescue and People & Pets Together in Minneapolis. The Tito’s team not only contributes to the efforts of these nonprofits through donations, but also by sponsoring events like Bone Appetite with Secondhand Hounds, a rescue organization in Minnetonka, and having team members volunteer at its locations.
Minnesota—where over half of households have pets and where individuals donated more than $5 billion to charitable efforts in 2021—has been happy to work hand-in-hand with Tito’s to make a difference in the lives of friends, family, and fur babies. For Tito’s, twenty-five years of loyalty to man’s best friend is just the beginning.
