Norrie Hiking for a Home on Mt. Roberts

Norrie at the summit of Mt. Roberts

At only eights month of age, Norrie is still very much a puppy - full of energy, eager to please and showing all signs that she will grow into a perfect lady with a family to call her own.  A lovely mixture of beagle and hound, Norrie seemed to smell that an adventure was in her near future when I picked her up en route to our hiking destination in the backyard of the Castle in the Clouds located in Moultonborough, New Hampshire.  This magnificent property features 28 miles of trails running over 5,500 acres of conservation land in the Ossipee Mountain Range.

Norrie ready to start up the trail

On the morning of December 3, 2011, Norrie and I decided that we would tackle five miles along these routes with a straight out and back hike on the Mt. Roberts Trail to a scenic summit that shares the name.  Norrie was ready to lead and did not require much coaxing to begin charging her way to the top of the mountain.  However, along the way, she obeyed requests to slow down and also agreed to take several photos en route.  Norrie was especially interested in playing catch up to the hikers who were on the trail ahead of us.  Norrie also kept us precisely on course with her nose to the ground following the scent of the trail so adeptly that she steered me in the opposite direction just as I was about to make a wrong turn.

Scenic outlook!

Norrie and I enjoyed a mostly solitary hiking adventure, but we did have the opportunity to meet up with a few people at the summit of Mt. Roberts who were eager to learn about her search for a home and to share stories of their own canine companions past and present.  While we did not have the opportunity to interact with any other dogs on our journey, Norrie does very well with other dogs, cats and kids.  As we were concluding our hike, a few children who were playing on the property near the hiker parking area definitely attracted Norrie's attention, and it was obvious she would have loved to join them.

Part beagle and part treeing walker coonhound perhaps?

Norrie is currently living with a family who provides her foster care as volunteers with Almost Home Rescue.  Her temporary family happily reports that Norrie is house trained and continues to improve her leash manners.  Most of all, Norrie would love to have a home of her own for the holidays.  

For additional information about Norrie, to share her profile or to make an application for adoption, please visit her page online at Petfinder.com.  In addition to the following video clip of Norrie hiking on the Mt. Roberts Trail en route to a scenic outlook, there is also an entire album of photos detailing her adventure available online at the Foster Dog Summit fan page.  See you on the trails!

Addi Scrambles to Whiteface Summit

Blue heeler mix Addi on the Blueberry Ledge Trail

"Smart, loving, energetic and the perfect running or agility dog," is the opening description on Addi's profile at Petfinder.com.  With such a high-energy resume, I was determined to tire Addi out with a challenging hike on a gorgeous summer like fall day.

Buckled in for safety en route to Mt. Whiteface

When I met Addi on Saturday morning, I was immediately impressed by her stunning good looks and playful demeanor.  Her foster mom informed me that Addi bonds very quickly to new people and that she would most likely enjoy hiking since she runs 2-3 miles nearly every day.  Addi hopped right into my car with such enthusiasm it was clear that she agreed with this assessment and couldn't wait to go on her first hike!  

Addi and I atop Mt. Whiteface

As we drove to the hiker parking area, I thought about how so many wonderful dogs like Addi become homeless as a result of housing restrictions.  Addi was adopted from an animal shelter when she was approximately 2 years old.  Her new family, which included two other dogs, loved Addi and were so thrilled to have rescued her from the shelter.  Sadly, only a few months later, the family had to move to military base housing where a two dog limit was in place.  Addi fell victim to the last in first out (LIFO) rule, and she became homeless for a second time in her short life.  I am hopeful that Addi's hike with Foster Dog Summit will put her one step closer to a permanent "three's a charm" home.

We chose the 8.4 mile round trip to the summit of Mt. Whiteface (4,020 ft.) via the Blueberry Ledge and Rollins Trails.  This is one of the most popular routes to the summit of Mt. Whiteface, but it does require more than a bit of scrambling near the top.  By all accounts, Addi - a 2 and 1/2 year old blue heeler mixed breed was up to the challenge.  When hiking solo with a dog on a leash, it is important to be certain that the dog is physically capable of some leaping and that you are prepared to lift the dog, if necessary.  Thankfully, Addi had some leaps, and I was able to give her a boost in a few spots near the top.

Addi and the view from the ledge en route

We met our first hikers on the trail approximately 45 minutes into our journey.  Addi alerted me to someone coming up the trail behind us by barking at them from a distance.  I was grateful for the heads up, but most of the dogs I have hiked with have not barked such alerts.  Addi, however, was a working dog intent on finishing her climb, and she clearly had bonded to me in a short amount of time.  I explained that Addi was on her first hike and had been very focused on the trail when they came up behind us.  They understood and joked that I was the safest person on the trail that day.  As we made our way up the Blueberry Ledge Trail, Addi became increasingly more confident and accepted that it was normal for other people and even the occasional dog to be on the trail with us.

Don't be fooled, Addi is just getting her second wind!

By the time we reached the summit, Addi and I took a much needed break, had some lunch and enjoyed the views.  We also made the acquaintance of another solo hiker named Martin who was planning to descend via the Blueberry Ledge Trail.  We were grateful for Martin's offer to take some photographs and his interest in Foster Dog Summit.  Addi and I decided to partner up with Martin for the return journey down the mountain.  Addi proved to be just as agile and energetic on the descent as she was on the way up the mountain, and she required very little assistance negotiating her way down the steeper sections.

I would be thrilled to hike with Addi again, but I hope that she will be hiking or enjoying some other activity with a new family before I get the chance to climb with her once more.  Please visit the complete photo album of Addi's hike to the summit of Mt. Whiteface.  Additional details about Addi are available on her profile at Petfinder.com.

To learn more about how to adopt Addi or to contribute financial or other support to the all volunteer rescue organization that provides Addi and many other dogs with foster homes, please visit the website for Almost Home Rescue of Maine.  See you on the trails!

Davey Reaches a New Home

Davey climbed Catamount Hill

A dreary weekend filled with rain was made a little brighter with news that one of the Foster Dog Summit hikers reached his final destination!  While the rain interrupted my hiking plans for the first weekend of October, it certainly did not dampen my spirits.

I was thrilled to learn that Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. had found a permanent home for Davey who tackled the trails en route to the summit of Catamount Hill back in August.  One of our smallest hikers to date, twenty-four pound Davey proved that he could climb just as well as dogs twice his size.

We look forward to receiving photos and updates on Davey from his new family which includes another dog who was previously adopted from Canine Guardians for Life, Inc.  While we await those updates and begin planning our next hike for this weekend, we invite you to continue sharing the adventures of other Foster Dog Summit hikers such as Bowie who is still waiting for his perfect family to find him.

Stella, Archie (f/k/a Davey) and Purl

We received an update from Davey, now named Archie, shortly after this post was published.  Here is Archie with his siblings Stella and Purl comfortably demonstrating how they summit the bed!

In addition to adopting, we hope that you or your friends and family members will consider becoming a foster provider for one of the many dogs waiting to be transported from an overcrowded animal shelter.  Fostering a dog is a wonderful way to assist a rescue group by providing a home for a few weeks up to a few months while their volunteers coordinate marketing efforts and begin reviewing applications from potential adopters. 

Unlike other areas of your life, when you foster a dog, "failure" is always an option!  In rescue terms, failure means that you agree to become a foster family and then decide that you cannot possibly part with him or her, so you make an application for adoption yourself.  It happens.  However, it does not always happen and there is no pressure for foster families to adopt, but occasionally people simply find a perfect match this way.

Most foster homes have one or more of their own dogs already and find that opening up their home to one more is an easy way to volunteer without making a permanent commitment to another dog.  Of course, foster families are not required to have other dogs in the household, so people without pets are encouraged to apply.  Foster dogs are fully vetted before arrival in their temporary homes and should any additional veterinary care be required, the rescue groups handle those financial responsibilities.

To learn more about becoming a foster family, please contact Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. and click on the Fostering tab at the top of the homepage.  You can also like their page on Facebook.

Back with Bertie on Mt. Cardigan

Bertie at the summit enjoying the mountain breeze

One good hike with a foster dog certainly deserves another.  Bertie, a dog who is searching for her forever home after being rescued from an overcrowded animal shelter, bagged her second peak in two weeks last Sunday, July 31, 2011 when she reached the 3,121 ft. summit of Mt. Cardigan.  This very popular hiking destination is located in the towns of Orange and Alexandria, New Hampshire and is part of the Cardigan Mountain State Park.

"Timber!"

Bertie proved once again that she is the perfect companion in the car and on the trail.  She playfully greeted fellow hikers and their canine companions throughout our journey along the West Ridge Trail.  We met a very tall, dark and handsome Bernese mountain dog named Timber.  He was rather impressive and very friendly.  We couldn't help but wonder how passersby may react to hearing his guardians call out to him, "Timber!". 

Bertie was especially interested in meeting and greeting the young children we encountered along the way.  She is obviously very comfortable interacting with people and animals of all ages and sizes.  In addition to the many dogs Bertie has met on her hikes up Mt. Kearsarge and Mt. Cardigan, she also currently shares her foster home with a mixed breed named Joey and three cats.

Time for a close up of that spotted tongue.

While I would certainly welcome the opportunity to hike with Bertie a third time, I am hopeful that this adorable Chow Chow/Spaniel mix will next cross my path on a hike where she is in the company of her new family.  Be sure to visit and share Bertie's profile on Petfinder.com and help find her a home.  Additional photos of Bertie's journey are available in album on the Foster Dog Summit fan page and a short video clip of her at the summit of Mt. Cardigan appears below.

Rescue organizations such as Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. rely on the availability of foster families to ensure a safe and healthy stay for dogs who are waiting for their forever homes.  If you are not ready to make a long term commitment to adopt another pet but would like to consider hosting a dog temporarily, we invite you to learn more about becoming a foster family for a dog in need of rescue.

Foster Dog Prada Conquers Crotched Mountain

Prada on the trail

On Sunday, July 24, 2011, Prada proved that little dogs with short legs can climb to big heights.  Still full of puppy energy, this approximately 6-month old Jack Russell/dachshund mixed breed demonstrated that she is ready to hike with the big dogs.  Prada may be small in size, but she is big in personality.  She excitedly greeted me at her foster home which she shares with three other dogs - a Labrador mix named Molly and two Beagle mixes named Charley and Jolene.  Prada was equally excited about riding in the car and quickly settled in for the drive to the trail.

Approaching the summit

Since Prada is new to hiking and she does have shorter legs, I opted to take her on a hike that would offer a trail with predictable terrain yet still allow us to complete a foster dog summit.  The Francestown Trail to the top of Crotched Mountain begins at the base of the ski resort and follows one of the easiest ski trails to the 2,066 ft. summit.  This route proved to be the perfect choice for a novice hiker like Prada who was on her first mountain adventure.

Taking a break and enjoying the sunshine

While Prada would have gladly welcomed the company of other dogs and people along the way, our solo journey to the summit of Crotched Mountain was a very enjoyable climb with plenty of opportunities for photos and water breaks en route.  The haze that accompanied the oppressive heat wave earlier in the week was just lifting as we reached the top of the mountain. 

Prada enjoyed roaming along the summit and taking in the views before we began our descent.  Any concerns that I may have had about Prada being able to complete the trip vanished as soon as I saw how much energy she still had in reserve for the hike back to the base.  On the way down, she was excitedly running at times and happily chasing butterflies.

I made it!  And I know there is a home out there for me...

To see more pictures of Prada's journey, visit her photo album on the Foster Dog Summit fan page.  If you or someone you know is interested in sharing his or her life with a wonderful canine companion who travels well in the car and on foot, please see and share Prada's Petfinder adoption profile.  Prada and the many other dogs that are waiting for adoptive and/or foster homes through Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. would be extremely grateful for your networking assistance!

Foster Dog Bertie Shines on Mount Kearsarge

For the second week in a row, I have been privileged to be accompanied by a wonderful canine companion en route to the summit of one of New Hampshire's most spectacular peaks.  On Sunday, July 17, 2011, the lovely Bertie and I hiked to the 2,937 ft. summit of Mt. Kearsarge located in Wilmot, New Hampshire.  Mt. Kearsarge is famous for its panoramic views showcasing Boston to the south, the White Mountains to the north, the Green Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Bertie on the Barlow Trail

Bertie is an approximately 2-year old Spaniel/Chow Chow mix who enjoys the company of other dogs, cats and people of all ages.  She is currently residing in a foster home that is part of the volunteer network of the rescue organization Canine Guardians for Life, Inc.

Bertie is both friendly and energetic, and she tackled Mt. Kearsarge with such enthusiasm that it felt as though she too sensed the magnificent views awaiting us at the summit!

Bertie shows off her golden coat

Our journey began at Winslow State Park where we opted to travel up the mountain using the Winslow Trail and return via the longer Barlow Trail.  Bertie was very pleased by the welcome she received from the park attendant who kindly presented her with a very large doggie biscuit to fuel her hike!

Taking in the views at the summit

Bertie walked extremely well on a leash and politely greeted all of the human and canine hikers that she met on the trails.  Many people stopped to pet Bertie along the way and to inquire about her hiking background.  They were all surprised to learn that this was Bertie's first hike since she is both so well mannered and very adept at climbing.  They were similarly surprised to learn that Bertie is a foster dog who is waiting for her permanent family to be found.  Fellow hikers we spoke with were more than happy to share Bertie's contact information with those looking to adopt a dog into their lives.  Bertie and I are also hopeful that some of the people we met today may themselves be interested in providing a permanent home for her or would consider opening their homes temporarily to a dog in need of foster care.

Bertie makes friends with Tucker

Foster families provide a critical link between overcrowded animal shelters and families looking to add a canine companion into their lives.  Foster care allows dogs to immediately transition into a home situation while simultaneously providing rescue groups with the time and resources required to appropriately match adopters with the dogs who are most suitable for their lifestyle.  If you or someone you know would love to add Bertie as a member of the family, please learn more about her and complete an adoption application.

For more photos of Bertie's adventure to the summit of Mount Kearsarge, visit her album and become a fan of Foster Dog Summit on Facebook.