Celebrate Valentine’s the Pet-Friendly Way With Sit Stay Day

I think we’ve all struggled with the age-old question: should I go out tonight or should I stay curled up on the couch with my dog? While normally The Austinot would tell you to get off your couch and plunge into the incredible city surrounding you, Emancipet has convinced us that, for at least one day, we should definitely sit and stay in.

Cozy Night In for Pet-Loving Philanthropists

Austin is full of philanthropists. With so many opportunities to give back, at times it can be overwhelming to get involved. Sit Stay Day gives pet and local food lovers the chance to give back and celebrate from the comfort of their couches.

For six years, Emancipet has celebrated Sit Stay Day on Feb. 12. Philanthropic Coordinator Kathleen Nobbe describes the event as a “love letter to Austin’s amazing local businesses, residents and pets.” The pet-centric non-profit, whose mission is to make neutering, spaying and other veterinary services affordable and accessible to all Austinites, has created 250 kits full of everything you need to have a perfect night in with your loved ones and furry friends.

So What’s in the Sit Stay Day Kit?

For $175, this year’s Sit Stay Day kit can be picked up or delivered to your door on Feb. 12. The beautiful kits come packaged in patterned canvas storage boxes. Each is full of items from local Texas artisans. You’ll have everything you need to make a delicious pasta dinner with all the fixings, plus dessert.

Tucked away with all the human-friendly noshables are treats that will make your animal counterparts feel included! And lest we forget the cherry on top, all kits boast a selection of stellar wine and beer, plus Tito’s vodka and Maine Root soda for a post-dinner cocktail. These kits provide the recipe for a purrrfect night in!

A photo posted by Emancipet (@emancipet) on Dec 16, 2015 at 1:31pm PST

After the dishes are cleaned and stomachs are full, the fun continues. Gift cards to local businesses and a handy tote from Blue Avocado will make shopping for your new favorite products a breeze.

Keeping Our Furry Friends Healthy

A photo posted by Emancipet (@emancipet) on Jan 17, 2016 at 4:54pm PST

Much like Austin’s four-legged friends, each Sit Stay Day kit is unique. The folks at Emancipet spend all year compiling a list of their favorite local goods and eateries. They put as much heart into the creation of these kits as they do into their inspiring work.

Kathleen Nobbe says her favorite thing about Sit Stay Day is the look on people’s faces when they pick up or receive their huge (20 x 16 x 12-foot) and colorful box of goodies! The Emancipet team can only describe Sit Stay Day as a “love fest.” For at least one cozy night a year, they’re inspiring 250 Austin families to come together and celebrate pets, people and local business from the comfort of their own homes.

Nobbe hopes these kits will not only make a cozy night in memorable, but also inspire Austin’s busy philanthropic community to keep supporting local businesses and non-profits like Emancipet.

All proceeds from the boxes help support the Emancipet mission of keeping pets healthy and families together. In 2015, the organization served more than 82,000 pets. We hope they will help even more furry friends in the year to come!

A photo posted by @chronfood on Feb 13, 2015 at 2:00pm PST

If you’d like to order your own kit for Sit Stay Day on Feb. 12, hurry over to Emancipet’s website before Feb. 10! As soon as you open your box of local treats, Sit Stay Day is certain to become a holiday you’ll want to celebrate every year!

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

Have you ever received a Sit Stay Day kit? What was your favorite item?