It was 13 years ago when Courtney Guertin threw a small backyard barbecue named after her rescue dog, Molly. The event had a $5 entry fee, and it raised $250. Twelve years later, that same event — too big to be held in her backyard — raised $20,000.

“Mollypalooza” returns to Bristol next weekend, and Guertin is hoping it will be bigger and better than ever.

Guertin, who is a Bristol resident, runs this fundraiser for Almost Home Rescue, a Rhode Island-based non-profit that brought she and Molly together all those years ago. Almost Home Rescue is a non-profit made up entirely of volunteers.

“We’re not a brick and mortar; we don’t have a shelter,” Guertin said. Instead, Almost Home Rescue works with local shelters to provide foster homes for dogs. According to Guertin, dogs often do not enjoy being in shelters, and this provides an alternative for dogs when they are in between homes. In addition, it helps rehabilitate and socialize the dogs.

Guertin emphasized that they do not focus on one specific type of dog, taking in all kinds of dogs from around Rhode Island. She said that includes dogs with a reputation for being difficult, such as pit bulls and rottweilers.

“One of the things that shelters look to us for is the ‘hard to take home’ dogs,” Guertin said. She also mentioned that many other shelters tend to focus on one type of dog, such as labs, while focusing on different types gives more opportunities for more dogs.

As time has gone on, Mollypalloza has grown far beyond its backyard barbeque roots. Guertin said that pretty soon it began, she realized that she needed a bigger venue. As time has gone on, the event has gone on to include raffles, live music, and more. It is one of the non-profit’s most profitable fundraisers.

A community of support

The event is noted for its large littleneck boil, but it includes non-seafood catered by Common Pub and Grille owner Courtney Poissant. Poissant and Guertin have been friends for more than 20 years.

“I know it was something that she was super into. I’m an animal lover myself, so it is something that I would love to see grow,” Poissant said. Poissant mentioned that her business donates money to the cause and to the event, an event that gets a lot of fundraising from local businesses.  These businesses include NEC Electric and Solar, which is their top, $1,500 event sponsor. Mike Sullivan, their director of operations, is also a volunteer at Almost Home Rescue.

“We’ve been working with them for about five years. We were foster fails,” Sullivan laughed. “We fostered our first dog through them and ultimately ended up adopting.” To this day, Sullivan and his girlfriend, Talia Haley, foster dogs at their home, with Haley becoming the volunteer director of Animal Home Rescue.

Sullivan described the fostering of dogs as very hard work, but rewarding nonetheless. He mentioned that a lot of these animals come from tough backgrounds, often spending their lives in cages before being fostered. Sullivan said an immediate change can be noticed on their faces when they come into a home for the first time.

“The first time seeing a couch, a TV, a blanket, or some basic things in a home, you can see the instant change in their attitude. They’re comfortable for once,” he said.

Guertin stresses that because it is a volunteer-run non-profit, every cent of the donations goes towards the animals. Mollypalooza takes place this Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Cup Defenders on Wood Street. More information on Animal Home Rescue can be found on their website: www.almosthomeri.org.