Sarge’s Celebrates 20 Years of Rescue at Frog Level Brewing Co.

By Emily Trigin

Cheers to the past — and paws forward into the future!

On Saturday, July 19th, Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation celebrated a huge milestone: 20 years of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in Western North Carolina. What better way to honor two decades of lifesaving work than with a community celebration at Frog Level Brewing Co. in Waynesville, NC?

The evening was a perfect mix of fun, nostalgia, and forward momentum. Surrounded by volunteers, staff, fosters, adopters, founders, and longtime supporters, we reflected on how far we’ve come — and just how much potential lies ahead.

Frog Level Brewing helped make every toast count by donating $1 for every beer, cider, and wine sold during the event. Attendees also had the chance to take part in a raffle, bid on generously donated silent auction items, and enjoy a custom birthday cake donated by the Sweet Onion Restaurant and made by Kandi’s Cake & Bake Shop.

Beyond the festivities, the celebration had a bigger purpose: to rally support for the next chapter of Sarge’s.

A Big Step Forward: We Own Our Building!

Earlier this year, Sarge’s reached a major milestone behind the scenes — due to the generosity of a donor, we officially purchased our entire building, securing a permanent home for our organization and the animals we serve. This was a monumental step, but it’s only the beginning.

Now, we’re turning our focus to something we’ve dreamed about for years: transforming our outdated facility into a more modern, efficient, and animal-friendly space.

At the 20th anniversary event, we unveiled architectural renderings that gave guests a visual glimpse into what the future could look like — a thoughtfully designed shelter that better supports the comfort, health, and emotional well-being of both animals and the people who care for them.

But dreams like this take more than blueprints — they take funding, community buy-in, and a whole lot of determination. That’s why this event wasn’t just a celebration — it was the start of a new era.

A Night of Impact

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, we raised just over $5,000 at the event — all of which will go directly toward our facility upgrade fundraising campaign. On top of that, our Community Pet Pantry got a huge boost with the donation of hundreds of pounds of pet food, helping keep pets in homes and out of shelters.

This kind of support matters. Not just for the animals already in our care, but for the thousands more who will come through our doors in the years ahead. Every dollar raised brings us closer to a shelter that matches the heart, passion, and dedication that has fueled Sarge’s for the past 20 years.

Help Us Build the Future of Sarge’s

As we look ahead to the next 20 years, we know that our mission is just as urgent — and our community just as vital — as ever. We’ve saved thousands of lives, but there’s still so much work to do. With your help, we can build a better Sarge’s, one that continues to be a beacon of hope for animals in need across Western North Carolina.

Whether you’ve been with us since day one or just joined the Sarge’s family, thank you for being part of our story. Together, we’re making a difference — and we’re just getting started.