Whether it’s a chicken, a bearded dragon, or a parakeet, if it needs a home, Life Is Better Rescue will find it one. The all-species, all-breed organization steps in whenever an animal is at risk to be euthanized, often at municipal shelters where overcrowding is rampant. When Life Is Better gets involved, the animals are transferred to their care, and looked after in foster homes across Colorado.

This Saturday, November 18, Life Is Better and Molly’s Spirits are partnering for an adoption event that doubles as a pet photo shoot. The Lakeside liquor store invites Coloradans to join them for donation-based, in-store pet portraits, where there will also be a host of Life Is Better dogs that can be adopted same-day. (Unfortunately for cat people, no felines will be brought to the event. “[Cats] are a bit of a flight risk,” jokes Morgan Hudson of Life Is Better, who helped organize the event.)

Attendees can bring as many of their pets for the holiday-themed shoot as they want, but only one animal can be photographed at a time. The photographer will send smaller prints within ten days, and high-resolution images will be available for purchase.

While an animal rescue organization and a liquor store may seem like an unlikely duo, the two joined forces after Molly’s Spirits donated wine to a Life Is Better silent auction event last year. The community-focused store wanted to get more involved, and initiated the partnership. In addition to the portrait event, for every 1.75 liter bottle of Tito’s Vodka sold during the event, both Tito’s and Molly’s Spirits will donate $1 to Life Is Better.

Life Is Better is fully foster-based, so those looking to adopt outside of the November 18 event can set up appointments to meet their potential new pets ahead of time. Life Is Better also brings some animals, like kittens or small mammals like guinea pigs, to some PetSmart locations around Colorado. The organization lists all adoptable animals on their website.


If You Go: Saturday, November 18, adoptions are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and portraits from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 5809 W. 44th Ave., Lakeside, CO.