The saying, ‘dog days of summer,’ takes on a whole new meaning when your four-legged friend gets to join you wherever you go – and we’re not just talking about for a walk around the block.
Breweries? Yup!
Bars? The more the merrier.
Restaurants? Yes (as long as they don’t steal my cheese curds)
It gets even better, though. In addition to your built-in bestie going everywhere with you, what if we told you their furry presence could score you exclusive discounts, deals, and freebies? Crazy, we know, but it’s all possible thanks to Paw Pass.
Paw Pass was born from Chandra Rudolph’s love for “animals, happy-hours, and brainstorming business ideas.” As the former owner of Lost Valley Cider CO., she experienced firsthand the desire for pet owners to include their animals in day-to-day activities outside of their home or the dog park.
“I realized there was a need for something more tangible and fun to help dog owners explore the city with their pups.”
So, what is Paw Pass? It’s a physical booklet that serves as a dog-friendly business guide, with annually updated information, and a savings book (for those who love a good deal).
Those featured rewards include free pup cups, discounts, and even BOGO beers at breweries! The 2025 edition offers more than 40 deals and ‘10x its value in savings’.
“Our mission is to help people and pups make the most of their city—while driving business to local small businesses. We want to build community, encourage exploration, and make going out with your dog easy and rewarding.”
Their goal is to expand into more cities to provide pups (and their humans) with a larger array of places to explore while also driving more traffic to local businesses.
For Chandra, it’s a special way to support the many facets that make up our MKE community. The memories created and stories shared from people with their pets signal to her that this was a business Milwaukee was missing.
“One of my favorites is our 2025 cover dog, an older rescue pup named Autumn, who got her very first Paw Pass at 17 and made it her mission to visit every single partner spot with her family. Stories like that remind me why we started—it’s more than coupons; it’s a connection tool for people and pets.”