09/12/2026
🇺🇸 OK EVERYONE — PLEASE READ. THIS ONE MEANS A LOT TO US. ⬇️
Today, as we host another Armed Forces Celebration Day at Pour Bros. benefiting Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation, we wanted to share one of the most meaningful stories in Pour Bros. history again — and give everyone an update.
🐾 THE STORY OF DECKER 🐾
A few years ago, Pour Bros. was given the incredible honor of naming a future Freedom Paws Service Dog.
We knew this was about more than picking a name. It was an opportunity to create a legacy through a dog that would someday support a Veteran or First Responder. For quite some time we couldn’t think of a name that would have lasting impact, but after an unexpected loss at our Champaign Pour Bros. the name quickly became obvious to us. Two years ago our Champaign location lost a dear friend and colleague, Mr. Chris Decker.
Chris was a retired police officer who wasn’t just a protector of our bar — he was a protector of downtown Champaign. He checked on our staff, watched over our guests and spent his life looking out for others. So we chose to honor Chris’ legacy of service the best way we knew how.
Service Dog Decker in his honor. 🐾♥️
And today, we have a pretty amazing update.
LOOK AT DECKER NOW!
He’s gotten SO BIG, has made incredible progress and is now almost fully trained and ready for his service dog mission in Oklahoma.
Even more special, Decker is being trained to serve another former police officer Warren!
A dog carrying the name and legacy of a man who spent his life protecting others will soon stand beside another former officer — providing support, stability, companionship and healing.
That’s a pretty incredible full-circle story.
This is why we wanted to share Decker again today. It’s an awareness story, a progress story and, most importantly, a legacy story.
Thank you, Chris Decker. Your impact lives on. ♥️
Thank you to Freedom Paws Service Dogs and Trainer Toni for the incredible work you do and for allowing us to be a small part of Decker’s journey.
And thank you to our Pour Bros. Champaign team, who have endured some tremendous losses over the past few years and continued forward with so much grace, courage and compassion.
Decker is almost ready. His mission is getting closer. And his story is just getting started. 🇺🇸🐾
♥️
Please Join us at Pour Bros. today from 5pm-11pm as we enjoy live music, food, celebrate local military service organizations, and Support this great organization…Freedom Paws!
Freedom Paws Service Dogs
Pour Bros. Craft Taproom Champaign
Toni Homann
Brenda Olson
Broken MoJo
Logan Springer & The Wonderfully Wild
