People spend billions of dollars every year on this industry and there does not seem to be a slowdown coming anytime soon. Can you guess what industry I might be talking about? If you guessed the pet industry, you would be correct. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA),Americans spent over 123 billion dollars in 2021on pet products and services. This number has steadily gone up in the past few years and it would seem the sky is the limit for our furry friends. The breakdown for the money spent on our pets includes pet food, supplies, vet care, and a category referred to as “other services’. The “other services” category would include boarding, grooming, insurance, training, and unique offerings. I am providing this information because the “other category” for 2021 made up9.5 billion dollars of the overall 123billion.Thisinformation leads me into highlighting a local business that is contributing to the “other category” of the booming pet industry. Barks N Brews is an off-leash dog park and bar that was created for our four-legged friends to exercise and socialize in a large, open space. People can play with their pups, enjoy a beverage at their airstream bar, and hangout with friends while their dogs are free to roam the park and enjoy the outdoors without the restrictions of a leash. This unique park is in downtown Macon off Riverside Drive. You may be wondering how this all came to fruition and the answer leads us to Entrepreneur, Kate Lambert. Kate is the owner of Barks N Brews. As a Macon native and a dog owner, she saw a need for a space that caters to pets so they may be outdoors and socialize just as we like todo. Having lived in Macon her entire life, she wanted to provide this service to the tri-county area. Kate feels very strongly about this venture and has taken a leave of absence from her career as an elementary teacher to pursue her dream of opening the park. We all have heard that it takes a village to accomplish our dreams, and in this case, it is no different. Kate has a sister who is right there in the trenches with her, along with her husband and many family members who have helped pave the way as well. As you can imagine, finding enough green space for a dog park was a challenge, but not the only one. Convincing the city that they needed a dog park that allowed the serving of alcoholic beverages would seem a monumental task, but the New Town Macon Organization and the Urban Development Authority were extremely interested in hearing what Kate had in mind. The pitch included a renovated airstream for serving beverages and a place for our4-leggedfriends and their respective owners to meet other community members. I guess you could say a social club for man and beast. The mission of the New Town Macon organization is to attract leverage and invest in businesses that will create a sense of place for its community members. In comes Kate with her business plan for Barks N Brews and a community relationship was formed. The Urban Development Authority is providing the lease for the property, which is known as Rotary Park. Unfortunately, the Covid-19pandemic delayed the initial progress of the park transformation, but Barks N Brews is now in full swing and providing the community with a unique and fun activity for dogs and people. Unlike regular dog parks, Barks N Brews has a membership application that requires proof of vaccinations before your dog can enter the park. Because the dogs have close contact with each other, it is especially important to make sure they are kept safe and up-to-date on vaccinations. You can enroll online and they have different options for membership with very reasonable pricing. The membership, which includes a daily option as well, is put to beneficial use with the offerings of a beautifully painted restroom area, seating with umbrellas, obstacles for the dogs, and upkeep of the grounds. Kate feels it was important to give back to the community and has already hosted a few charity events that benefit animals. Some of those events have included Adoption Days, Doggy Yoga, and the exceedingly popular Single Mingles nights. Many have met up on Single Mingles night at the park; you do not need to own a dog to come out and enjoy the fun. Kate is not sure how many people have found a lasting relationship but can guarantee that many furry friends have bonded at these gatherings. The park has a highly active Facebook page, and they are adding new events all the time. Even though the park is a year-round experience, there are times of inclement weather and time changes that are updated regularly on their Facebook page. They also have just recently added additional offerings from Everything Gelato by Chad, a local vendor and the park will now have Gelato, Sorbet, and pupsicles for your furry children. Kate and her family appreciate all the support from everyone and want to make sure they provide a safe and fun environment for the community. There is always a bigger responsibility when you offer alcohol at a venue, but they hope everyone will drink responsibly just as they would at any other venue. There are plans for continuing improvements of the park and you can count on seeing additional events and activities throughout the year. At some point, they may be adding a Doggy Daycare once they establish the need and logistics. Go on out and visit this local treasure and you will no doubt see dogs and their humans having fun.