Dog-themed festivities kick off at Point Perk starting August 1, accompanied by pet adoptions.
The Point Perk Hosts "Dog Days of Summer" Events for a Cause
The Point Perk, a community coffee shop in Northern Kentucky, is set to host a series of special events starting on August 1, 2025. These events, dubbed the "Dog Days of Summer," are designed to provide social and vocational enrichment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who work at the coffee shop.
The Point Perk, which opened its doors in 2015, is more than just a coffee shop. It serves as a showcase for the mission of The Point/Arc, an organisation that has been supporting individuals with I/DD through educational, social, residential, and vocational opportunities since 1982. The Point/Arc's first social enterprise, The Point Restaurant, was established in 1982 to provide vocational training to individuals with I/DD.
The "Dog Days of Summer" events will feature dog merchandise, homemade treats for dogs, and a vote for "Pup of The Perk." The events are a direct response to the positive interactions between the workers at The Point Perk and the dogs that visit the coffee shop. This positive engagement is a significant motivator for the workers.
In a unique partnership, The Point Perk is teaming up with the Stray Animal Adoption Program (SAAP), an all-volunteer, non-profit organisation that rescues, protects, and provides care for at-risk pets. The culmination of the events will be a dog adoption event in partnership with SAAP on Friday, August 8, 2025, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Anyone who brings their dog to The Point Perk during the "Dog Days of Summer" events will have their photo taken and posted on the wall.
A professional barrister, Ungerman, is planning a special drink for the "Dog Days of Summer" events. The coffee shop is also decorating its walls with photographs of customers' dogs. Prizes will be awarded for the top three dogs voted by the workers at The Point Perk during the events.
This partnership between The Point Perk and SAAP underscores The Point/Arc’s ongoing mission to support people with I/DD by creating meaningful experiences linked to community and animal interaction. The events are not just a fun way to spend time, but they also serve as a tool for enrichment and engagement for the workers at The Point Perk.
[1] Source: The Point/Arc press release, dated July 15, 2025.
- The upcoming "Dog Days of Summer" events, taking place at The Point Perk in Northern Kentucky, aim to provide enriching experiences for workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- The concept for these events originates from the positive relations between The Point Perk's workers and the dogs that frequent the community coffee shop.
- In collaboration with the Stray Animal Adoption Program (SAAP), a dog adoption event will conclude the series on August 8, 2025, inviting all pet owners to participate.
- The Point Perk is also partnering with a professional barrister to create a special drink for the "Dog Days of Summer" events, while decorating its walls with photos of customers' pets.
- This partnership and the events themselves are an integral part of The Point/Arc's ongoing mission to provide opportunities for personal growth through community, education, and lifestyle development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
