By Roy Podolin, Barkville Dog Rescue Board Member and Volunteer
It turned out to be a doggone great time and all for a great cause. The 2nd annual “Pickle for Pups” pickleball fundraiser for BarkVille Dog Rescue was held on Nov. 15-16, 2024, at Life Time in Peachtree Corners. The Friday night “Drinks & Dinks” party featured live music, food/drink, and clinics/drills, as players prepared for the “Team Up For Rescue” tournament on the 16th. A total of 134 players across 16 teams participated in a round robin format with the top four teams in each division competing on the stadium courts for gold, silver, and bronze medals. ALTA sponsored the medals for the players. The event raised $63,000 for BarkVille Dog Rescue, a 100-percent volunteer 501 (c)(3) rescue dedicated to saving dogs at highest risk regardless of age, breed, or medical needs.
The tournament featured exciting competition throughout the day with teams in both the 3.0/3.5 and 4.0/4.5 divisions battling for the medals. The 4.0/4.5 finals culminated in a “Dreambreaker” showdown to determine the gold medal winners! Life Time Director of Pickleball Carol Campa and her staff ran a stellar tournament.
Sponsors included ALTA Pickleball, IdirectVet, the Torras Foundation, Automation Direct, Cloud 9 Classics, the Atlanta Group at Morgan Stanley, Lazy Dog Restaurants, Body Symmetry MD, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bridge Park Animal Hospital, Second Life Atlanta, Chattahoochee Roofing and Construction, BCS Attorneys at Law, Novak Home Solutions, Chiringa, Lucy’s Mutt Loaf, and USA Reflections Auto Spa.
Many of BarkVille’s adorable, adoptable dogs enjoyed lots of love and attention from players and spectators alike. BarkVille Dog Rescue is always in need of foster families, and you can learn more about their mission at www.barkvilledogrescue.org. BarkVille relies solely on the generosity of individuals and corporate donors to save dogs most in need. If you are interested in getting more information or would like to become a sponsor for the 2025 “Pickle For Pups” event, please call or text Roy Podolin at 770.359.8400.
