May 16, 2025 • 5 mins
Eliza Curtin with the Bissell Pet Foundation joins us to discuss the upcoming Bissell Blocktail Party at the East Grand Rapids High School Track!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The location is the East Grand Rapids High School Track
once again for this year's Bissle Blocktail Party. This is
Talk of the Town on News Radio with thirteen hundred
and one oh six nine FM. I'm Steve Kelly from
West Michigan's Morning News, joined by my partner in crime,
Bet Brett Bikita. It's Brett right, it is Brett. Brett
Bikita is here and from the Bissile Pet Foundation Chief
(00:21):
of Staff Eliza Curtin on the liveline. Eliza, thanks for
doing this today.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Thanks for having me. I'm excited to talk about Blocktail Party.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
We'll tell you how to fetch tickets and everything. There
will be a lot of dog analogies, but for those
who may not know, and there can't be very many,
tell us a little bit about the funds that are
raised and how they'll help the Bissle Pet Foundation do
their important work.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Absolutely so. Blocktail is Bissile Pet Foundations primary fundraising events
of the year and one hundred percent of net proceeds
prevents on planned litters through our sixth to Future Spain
Uter program. They help deserving pets find homes through Umpty
the Shelters event, and much much more, we do crisis
and disaster work, transport work. The list goes on, and
(01:06):
this party really supports all of those incredible programs.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Elizah Kudo's first and foremost to you and your staff
and this amazing foundation that just continues to grow and
really has a bigger footprint nationally than many people might realize.
With the Empty the Shelters and what has going on.
But when you look at the adoption of pets that
we're seeing and not just you know, dogs that you
might think of, it really is on the uptick and increase,
(01:31):
isn't it. I Mean, I just I see more and
more stories about this. I see the shelters when an
Empty the Shelter event comes up proudly announced that hey,
we empty the shelter, we got rid of all of
the animals to great homes. I mean, it's got to
make you feel good what you guys are doing. And
is there a surge right now?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You know, it's hard to say, I will say, though,
our Empty the Shelters event is really making a difference.
We have a spring event happening in May one through fifteen,
and then we will have another one in July, and
they're really helping shelters out. They help the shelters because
shelters are so overwhelmed pretty much constantly right now, and
these events bring much needed foot traffic into the shelters.
(02:08):
So it's a win win for the adopter, the shelter,
and the pack.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
We are all dog people on West Michigan's Morning News.
Sandy and I just rescued our puppies, Zuzu, so we
are fully on board facts. Sandy and I look forward
to going every single year to the event. It is Tuesday,
June third, at the East Grand Rapids High School Track.
Before we get to the blocktail party itself, though, there's
still may be a couple of sponsor opportunities for the
(02:34):
party on the Monday before this one. Tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yes, so if you are a sponsor of fifteen hundred
dollars or above, you are invited to a private sponsor
party on June second. It's an amazing party. It's a
thank you to all of our incredible sponsors who are
helping make blocktail happen. So there is still time to
sponsor and you can go to Bissle at foundation dot
org slash blocktail party to find more details on how
(02:58):
to sponsor the event.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
And then for the block deail party on Tuesday at
the East Grand Apats High School Track. They're on Lake Drive.
It's six to nine. Tell us about that and what's
your one hundred dollars ticket gets you?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
This is truly the best dog on party in town.
Your ticket gets you first. The most important thing is
you get to bring your dog. What's better than that
that we say it's byod bring your own dog. Aside
from that, you'll get an incredible goodie bag with tons
of fun items from our sponsors and from Bisso Pet Foundation.
There's incredible food vendors. I want to say we have
(03:32):
fourteen food vendors from all over Grand Rapids this year,
known as Tritoria, Furniture City, Creamery, Magiamo and much more.
Of course, incredible drinks by our friends at Tito's, So
we'll have bargaritas and a custom beer by Saga Tak Brewing,
which we're super excited about. I want to bargaarta right now,
(03:55):
only a few more weeks.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yes, your dog. I just want to add in the
garage barring go oh yeah, a whole bunch more. If
you go to the website Bislepetfoundation dot org slash blocktail
dash party for more information. So do I need a
ticket in advance? How does it work to get tickets
for the big event on Tuesday, June three?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so I recommend definitely getting your tickets in advance
because prices do go up at the door. Ticket sales
will close on our website the day before, so make
sure you do it before June third. There are one
hundred dollars a ticket, but it gets you so so
much and it's incredible evening. And like I said, one
hundred percent of net proceeds goes directly to pets, which
is incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And Eliza, I just wanted to throw this in because
we want everyone to be safe and have a good
time and our pets and friends, right is there are
some requirements to make sure before you bring your dog
or want to bring your dog that maybe you should
be aware of absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So first and foremost, your pet must be up to
date on vaccinations. We also do recommend please no flexi leashes,
just for everyone's safety. And then we do ask that
all dogs are both pets and people friendly because it
is a pretty busy event, so we want to make
sure your dog is comfortable with both people and pets.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
It's an awesome event. Bring your pet, don't bring your pet,
Bring your wallet to help this amazing organization do the
work that they do day in and day out. The
East Grand Rapids High School Track, which is right there
on Lake Drive on Tuesday, June third, six to nine pm.
(05:26):
As we mentioned, Bistlepetfoundation dot org will tell you everything
that you need to know. The chief of staff is busy.
You've got stuff to get back to. We hope to
see you on that Tuesday night. Eliza Curtin, thank you
so much for your time today.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to
see you at Blacktail.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It is Talk of the Town on news Radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
The location is the East Grand Rapids High School Track
once again for this year's Bissle Blocktail Party. This is
Talk of the Town on News Radio with thirteen hundred
and one oh six nine FM. I'm Steve Kelly from
West Michigan's Morning News, joined by my partner in crime,
Bet Brett Bikita. It's Brett right, it is Brett. Brett
Bikita is here and from the Bissile Pet Foundation Chief
(00:21):
of Staff Eliza Curtin on the liveline. Eliza, thanks for
doing this today.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Thanks for having me. I'm excited to talk about Blocktail Party.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
We'll tell you how to fetch tickets and everything. There
will be a lot of dog analogies, but for those
who may not know, and there can't be very many,
tell us a little bit about the funds that are
raised and how they'll help the Bissle Pet Foundation do
their important work.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Absolutely so. Blocktail is Bissile Pet Foundations primary fundraising events
of the year and one hundred percent of net proceeds
prevents on planned litters through our sixth to Future Spain
Uter program. They help deserving pets find homes through Umpty
the Shelters event, and much much more, we do crisis
and disaster work, transport work. The list goes on, and
(01:06):
this party really supports all of those incredible programs.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Elizah Kudo's first and foremost to you and your staff
and this amazing foundation that just continues to grow and
really has a bigger footprint nationally than many people might realize.
With the Empty the Shelters and what has going on.
But when you look at the adoption of pets that
we're seeing and not just you know, dogs that you
might think of, it really is on the uptick and increase,
(01:31):
isn't it. I Mean, I just I see more and
more stories about this. I see the shelters when an
Empty the Shelter event comes up proudly announced that hey,
we empty the shelter, we got rid of all of
the animals to great homes. I mean, it's got to
make you feel good what you guys are doing. And
is there a surge right now?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You know, it's hard to say, I will say, though,
our Empty the Shelters event is really making a difference.
We have a spring event happening in May one through fifteen,
and then we will have another one in July, and
they're really helping shelters out. They help the shelters because
shelters are so overwhelmed pretty much constantly right now, and
these events bring much needed foot traffic into the shelters.
(02:08):
So it's a win win for the adopter, the shelter,
and the pack.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
We are all dog people on West Michigan's Morning News.
Sandy and I just rescued our puppies, Zuzu, so we
are fully on board facts. Sandy and I look forward
to going every single year to the event. It is Tuesday,
June third, at the East Grand Rapids High School Track.
Before we get to the blocktail party itself, though, there's
still may be a couple of sponsor opportunities for the
(02:34):
party on the Monday before this one. Tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yes, so if you are a sponsor of fifteen hundred
dollars or above, you are invited to a private sponsor
party on June second. It's an amazing party. It's a
thank you to all of our incredible sponsors who are
helping make blocktail happen. So there is still time to
sponsor and you can go to Bissle at foundation dot
org slash blocktail party to find more details on how
(02:58):
to sponsor the event.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
And then for the block deail party on Tuesday at
the East Grand Apats High School Track. They're on Lake Drive.
It's six to nine. Tell us about that and what's
your one hundred dollars ticket gets you?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
This is truly the best dog on party in town.
Your ticket gets you first. The most important thing is
you get to bring your dog. What's better than that
that we say it's byod bring your own dog. Aside
from that, you'll get an incredible goodie bag with tons
of fun items from our sponsors and from Bisso Pet Foundation.
There's incredible food vendors. I want to say we have
(03:32):
fourteen food vendors from all over Grand Rapids this year,
known as Tritoria, Furniture City, Creamery, Magiamo and much more.
Of course, incredible drinks by our friends at Tito's, So
we'll have bargaritas and a custom beer by Saga Tak Brewing,
which we're super excited about. I want to bargaarta right now,
(03:55):
only a few more weeks.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yes, your dog. I just want to add in the
garage barring go oh yeah, a whole bunch more. If
you go to the website Bislepetfoundation dot org slash blocktail
dash party for more information. So do I need a
ticket in advance? How does it work to get tickets
for the big event on Tuesday, June three?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so I recommend definitely getting your tickets in advance
because prices do go up at the door. Ticket sales
will close on our website the day before, so make
sure you do it before June third. There are one
hundred dollars a ticket, but it gets you so so
much and it's incredible evening. And like I said, one
hundred percent of net proceeds goes directly to pets, which
is incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And Eliza, I just wanted to throw this in because
we want everyone to be safe and have a good
time and our pets and friends, right is there are
some requirements to make sure before you bring your dog
or want to bring your dog that maybe you should
be aware of absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So first and foremost, your pet must be up to
date on vaccinations. We also do recommend please no flexi leashes,
just for everyone's safety. And then we do ask that
all dogs are both pets and people friendly because it
is a pretty busy event, so we want to make
sure your dog is comfortable with both people and pets.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
It's an awesome event. Bring your pet, don't bring your pet,
Bring your wallet to help this amazing organization do the
work that they do day in and day out. The
East Grand Rapids High School Track, which is right there
on Lake Drive on Tuesday, June third, six to nine pm.
(05:26):
As we mentioned, Bistlepetfoundation dot org will tell you everything
that you need to know. The chief of staff is busy.
You've got stuff to get back to. We hope to
see you on that Tuesday night. Eliza Curtin, thank you
so much for your time today.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to
see you at Blacktail.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It is Talk of the Town on news Radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
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