With summer in full swing, there is plenty going on in Downtown San Diego. This Saturday, July 9, Mission Brewery will be hosting anyone and everyone to come and enjoy some beer with your family, friends and even your pets.

There will be plenty of activities going on for all ages, and because this is not a bar, kids are more then welcome to attend along with their parents. Of course, as it’s an event for our four-legged friends, any dogs, big and small, are also welcome. The brewery is brand-new to San Diego and has just opened its packaging facility, as well as the 3,000-square-foot tasting room located in the old Wonder Bread building in the East Village neighborhood.

Mission Brewery is opening its doors to help an organization called the New Leash on Life Puppy Club. This organization raises puppies to work at a training school called Guide Dogs for the Blind.

San Diego’s Guide Dogs for the Blind was the first guide dog training school established on the West Coast. It was designed for students to be able to learn about guide dogs and how to interact with them, as well as the blind.

New Leash specifically caters to puppies and raises them out of San Rafael, Calif. to then send on to the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus. This campus helps interact a new dog with a blind student and gets them acquainted enough with each other and the program.

The local chapter in San Diego is made up of all volunteers so the school can keep as many costs down as possible.

Due to the fact that they are working for free and students receive the dogs for free, donations are needed to keep the program and school running for future blind students and dogs.

A local volunteer, Ronda Coyle, who has helped to organize the event, loves what she does and has expressed her admiration for the organization.

“The thing that really drew me in to Guide Dogs for the Blind was the fact that they give every student a dog for life and for free,” Coyle said. “And that’s amazing.”

This fundraiser is a great way to get out and grab a beer, as well as raise money for a great cause. With every pint or flight that is purchased, $1 will go toward the New Leash on Life organization.

Mission Brewery, located on 1441 L St., will also be serving food from Miho Gastrotruck and will have a raffle with prizes.

The inside scene is pet-friendly and has a large standing area for the guests that attend the event. All ages are welcome, and pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs along.

There will also be plenty of time to get your dogs groomed by bringing them to Hot DoGity Do’s, which will have nail-trimming services for $5. All of the proceeds will be going to the nonprofit organization. Doggie beer bones will be sold as well, and $1 per bag will also go toward the organization.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 9, 2011 and will go from 4 to 8 p.m. There is no cost for admission, but come prepared to purchase beers for a greater cause.