Pups and pints at a pizza joint

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

More than 150 people and at least 75 dogs partied on the outdoor deck at Bado’s Pizza Grill & Ale House in Mt. Lebanon on June 1 for the Pups Pints and Pizza event.

A pug named Willow Jean, 3, acted as unofficial greeter of dogs entering and leaving the party.

“She loves other dogs,” said her owner, Jackie Barner of South Park.

Willow Jean came with Ms. Barner, a veterinary technician, and her friend, veterinarian Erin Deliere. Their table was next to outdoor steps that the dogs used to access the second-floor deck. Dogs did not walk through the restaurant at any time.

“This is our second pup night at Bado’s,” said Susan Tenza of Mt. Lebanon. “There are just so few places where you can take your dog.”

Mrs. Tenza and her husband, Rich, came with Norm, 3, a black puggle (pug-beagle mix).

Pups Pints and Pizza was the idea of Geena Badolato Nearhoof, who helps run her family’s restaurant.

“I got a puppy last spring, and I wanted to take him places,” she said.

Her husband, Nolan Nearhoof, brought 18-month-old Clark toward the end of the four-hour party. The black curly-haired dog is a sheepadoodle, an old English sheepdog/poodle mix.

Clark was visibly thrilled to be there. He played with dogs large and small and greeted Dr. Deliere, his veterinarian at University Veterinary Specialists in McMurray.

The canine crowd ranged from fancy purebred breeds to a wide assortment of rescue dogs, including a white puppy named Casper.

“Yes, like Casper the friendly ghost in comic books,” said Collin Higgins of Green Tree.

Casper attracted attention because he has an unusual back story. He was rescued from a Korean farm where he and other dogs were to be slaughtered and processed for meat, Mr. Higgins said.

Ninety canines arrived in Pittsburgh in January and March in the Korean Airlift organized by Humane Society International and Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team.

Casper is a Jindo, a hunting dog originally bred on Jindo Island,