Ask Why is Fostering Healthy Dogs Illegal in New Hampshire

The look I get when I explain that the State Veterinarian in
New Hampshire has made it illegal to foster healthy,
adoptable dogs for rescue groups, so no more hiking.
 

Earlier this week, I posted a final farewell to my adventures here at Foster Dog Summit because it is now illegal to foster healthy, adoptable dogs for rescue groups in the State of New Hampshire. I asked anyone who wanted to know why this is now law to please send an email along with a photo of your dog to the state veterinarian with the following subject line - "Why is Fostering Healthy, Adoptable Dogs Now Illegal?"

Many of you took the opportunity to do so and for that I am deeply grateful. Thank you for exercising your rights to hold government officials accountable for their actions. A number of people have shared their emails and the responses that they received, if any, and I have quickly discovered that they are all canned replies that do not answer the question, "Why is Fostering Healthy, Adoptable Dogs Now Illegal?" Instead what everyone is receiving in response from the state veterinarian's office reads as follows:

Good morning, (insert name here) -

 

Thank you very much for your note.

 

It is not illegal to foster an animal in New Hampshire, but there are certain criteria that need to be met. The title of blog, “Fostering Dogs for Rescues Illegal in New Hampshire”, is incorrect and misleading. Part of the recently passed rule is pertinent here (highlights added), “Foster facilities shall be used solely for medical or behavioral rehabilitation when a premises already holds a license to house animals. Foster facilities shall not be used as an extension of space for housing the general population of a licensee.” For many years, fosters have been considered an extension of a licensed premises.  Note that the blog uses the terms “rescue” and “broker” nearly interchangeably. Brokers are not the same as rescues or shelters. By definition in statute, brokers arrange deals and/or transport animals. They do not have a licensed premises, thus brokers cannot use a foster unless it is a licensed location.

 

We appreciate your concern and interest.

 

Sincerely,

 

Steve Crawford

  

Stephen K. Crawford, DVM
New Hampshire State Veterinarian
25 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301603-271-2404

 

While this is better than no response at all, I suppose, it still does not answer the question, "Why is Fostering Healthy, Adoptable Dogs Now Illegal?" Rather, it merely confirms what is accurately explained in my previous blog post. Essentially, if a dog is healthy, he or she must remain in a cage in a shelter until adopted or afflicted with an illness or a behavioral problem. It is now illegal for healthy, adoptable dogs, like the dozens of canine companions who hiked with me, to reside temporarily in foster homes.

I am not using terms interchangeably or misleading anyone. I resent that accusation made by the state veterinarian, and I reiterate my repeated requests for him to substantiate the need for and quantify the risk of New Hampshire based rescue groups such as Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. being suddenly blindsided by an administrative rule change that has forced these volunteers to cease operations even though they have been licensed by the state and operating legally and effectively for several years. I used the defined term "Broker" accurately in referencing the license held by Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. and its compliance with all of the rules and regulations of the State of New Hampshire. 

If you would like to know why this legislation was changed or would like to share a story about the positive experiences that you have had volunteering with, adopting from or contributing time or money to a rescue group operating in New Hampshire that is negatively impacted by this rule change, it would be extremely beneficial for the State Veterinarian as well as your State Senators and State Representatives to hear about it as well.

The foster dogs and I will miss seeing everyone on the trails. Thank you for your kindness and support over the years. Below is a video of the first two years of our adventures with Foster Dog Summit.

 

 

Fostering Dogs for Rescues Illegal in New Hampshire - A Sad Farewell to Foster Dog Summit

Scilly hiking on the Coppermine Trail

On Sunday, my dog Scilly and I enjoyed a hike along the Coppermine Trail to Bridal Veil Falls. She is no longer a foster dog, but this time last year, she entered my life as one. Scilly, a border collie mix, was rescued from a hoarding situation in rural West Virginia. After authorities confiscated all of the animals from the hoarder, Scilly was ultimately transferred to a local rescue group and narrowly avoided euthanasia at the nearby high kill animal shelter. Scilly resided for several months in this foster home where she interacted with other dogs, cats and people of all ages. She had the opportunity to recover from severe neglect while waiting for a foster home to become available in New Hampshire where her rescue group had established a solid working relationship with a local non-profit rescue organization.

Roadie's first hike. He much prefers swimming.

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, I was struggling with how to best add a second dog to my home since I knew that my current dog was rather selective about his canine companions. As a former stray, Roadie's history was unknown, and I wanted to find the perfect fit for him. I took him to a professional trainer for obedience work, and she recommended a smaller sized female dog. I still had to contend with the issue that Roadie needed carefully managed introductions with other dogs and that he may even need to be around another dog for a few days before I could be confident that they would be compatible long term.

I contacted a few local rescue groups to inquire about the type of dog I was looking for and to let me know if they came across one that might be a good fit. If possible, I wanted to take on a foster-to-adopt situation in which I would agree to foster the dog and have the option to adopt her if she proved to be a good fit. If Roadie did not accept the new dog, then I agreed and thankfully had the ability to keep them safely separated from one another until the foster dog could be adopted into a different permanent home.  

Scilly out for a spin

Within a few weeks, an email arrived from a local rescue group with a subject line that read, "Lisa-Marie, meet Priscilla!" And in answer to your question, I am not named after Elvis' daughter, but I am a fan of his music. I considered this amusing coincidence to be a positive sign. Priscilla was vetted and transported to New Hampshire in compliance with state laws and rules governing rescue groups. She was promptly renamed Scilly. She and Roadie needed a few days to adjust to one another but quickly found common ground in their mutual love of chasing squirrels. Scilly enjoys hiking almost as much as she enjoys wave running.

Sadly, this trip report marks the end of a bittersweet journey that I began over four years ago and had hoped to continue well into the future. Unfortunately, opening your home as a temporary residence for healthy, adoptable rescue dogs is now illegal in New Hampshire, so I can no longer hike with them and blog about their adventures on Foster Dog Summit.

My heart dog Bandit on our final hike in 2013

Back in 2011 when I started this blog, my own dogs at that time were ages 13 and 14 and physically unable to accompany me on long hikes. So, I decided to contact a local rescue group and see if any of the dogs residing temporarily in their foster homes would like to join me. I had previously volunteered in a number of animal welfare organizations, including local shelters, as well as temporary shelters put in place to assist the animal victims of natural disasters and puppy mills. Therefore, I was very familiar with the important work that rescue groups do in providing a network of foster homes where homeless animals reside while waiting to be adopted into permanent homes.

When rescue groups are run correctly, adopting from one can be a very positive experience. There is an incredible benefit to being able to adopt a dog that has already resided in a home environment. Many foster homes have other dogs, cats and even small children living there. So, unlike homeless dogs that reside in a shelter environment, questions about how rescue dogs interact with various types of people and animals, as well as whether or not they enjoy activities such as car rides or need training in certain areas, can be determined through real life experiences. Shelters, on the other hand, are often limited to assessing a dog's interactions using strictly adults doing things like reaching into a food bowl with a fake hand on a stick to see if a dog is food aggressive and using a toddler sized doll to determine if it likes children.

In my ideal world, all homeless dogs would be able to temporarily live in a foster home while waiting for their forever home instead of having to reside in a kennel in a shelter.

For several years now, as a result of New Hampshire's community wide effort in addressing the problem of pet overpopulation through education, legislation, and sterilization, shelters and rescue groups throughout the state have been able to import homeless dogs from other parts of the country that have not yet succeeded in replicating our state's success. I have always remained hopeful that as we continued to import homeless dogs, we would ultimately succeed in exporting our strategy for solving the problem elsewhere. As I have travelled around the country or communicated online with anyone involved in animal welfare, I frequently discuss how New Hampshire succeeded and refer them to additional sources of information.

Jack "nothin' but a hound dog" on Mt. Sunapee

When I set out in 2011 to hike with foster dogs, I wanted to be certain that the rescue groups I volunteered with were reputable and law abiding. Unfortunately, there are some people who claim to be rescue groups that do not abide by the rules set forth by the NH Department of Agriculture/Division of Animal Industry regarding the importation of dogs. I wanted to steer clear of any rescue groups who were knowingly or unknowingly violating the rules meant to keep people and animals safe. I am convinced that most of those people just want to help healthy, adoptable dogs escape death and are simply not yet aware of the risks involved and the procedures to be followed that can significantly minimize the spread of disease. I also know that people and their dogs travel into New Hampshire from all over the country and the world without obtaining a health certificate from their veterinarian before entering our state permanently or temporarily. So, we can minimize, but certainly never eliminate, such risks.

Most important of all, I know that if people do not have the opportunity to safely operate a rescue organization, their desire to help animals will find an outlet in an unregulated underground network that could pose a significant health threat to people and animals.

So, my own personal criteria for locating a reputable rescue group required that organizations were operating as follows:

1. Adopting only healthy dogs that had been properly vaccinated, transported and quarantined
2. Had a strong relationship with rescues groups or shelters that were sending dogs from another state
3. Carefully screened adopters and foster homes
4. Would take back and rehome any dog they placed if an adopter could no longer keep it
5. Requires adopters to return an adopted animal to the rescue if they need to rehome it

With the above requirements, I felt confident that I could safely hike with healthy, adoptable dogs that would be placed into good homes and not be later abandoned or surrendered to an animal shelter if the initial placement failed.

Marvin taking in the views from Mt. Welch

I found the ideal rescue group in Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. - a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based out of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Founder and President, Judith Apy, and her fellow volunteers had a stellar reputation and met all of my requirements. We met for lunch. I told her about my plans. I started hiking with foster dogs and blogging about the experiences.

Now, Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. has effectively been put out of its not for profit business even though the organization has never had a complaint filed against it for adopting out sick animals and has not otherwise been found to be in noncompliance with any rules or regulations. Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. operates under a broker's license that is issued by the state, and its operations are overseen by the Division of Animal Industry. The organization relies on foster homes and does not have a physical shelter to house animals that are waiting to be adopted. Foster homes provide temporary shelter for dogs that are waiting to be adopted and also serve as a critical safety net if an adopter is no longer able to keep an animal and needs to return it to the rescue organization. Without a foster home available to reclaim a dog in a failed adoption, the only option an adopter has is to surrender the animal to a shelter.

In addition to importing homeless dogs from out of state, rescue groups frequently assist local families who need to rehome their pets and do not want to surrender the animals to a local shelter. For example, I find it incredibly painful to learn of dogs who are surrendered to an animal shelter because of the death of their owners. The ability for such dogs to be placed in a foster home and rehomed through a rescue organization is very much needed, but sadly no longer an option, in the State of New Hampshire.

The state veterinarian who is in charge of the Division of Animal Industry claims that there have been complaints made to his office about unhealthy dogs entering the state and being adopted out to local families. I have requested statistics from the state veterinarian's office regarding these complaints, but there does not appear to be an official record of these complaints available for public inspection. I also listened to testimony from a recent hearing in the state senate where the state veterinarian did not cite any specific evidence and did not in any way quantify the risk posed by fostering healthy, adoptable dogs for licensed rescue groups.

Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. operates under a broker's license that is issued by the state and its operations are overseen by the Division of Animal Industry. A new administrative rule {Agr 1704.10 (e)} recently adopted by the Department of  Agriculture/Division of Animal Industry specifies that, "Brokers shall not use foster facilities."

Scilly was adopted through Canine Guardians for Life, Inc.

So, let's consider the impact of this rule change if I wanted to adopt my dog Scilly from Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. today. I would have to agree to officially adopt her before her arrival in New Hampshire without having the opportunity to meet her in person and determine if she would indeed be a good fit. If it turned out that she did not get along with my other dog and I had to rehome her for that reason or for any other reason, I would have no choice other than to surrender her to an animal shelter. As a broker, Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. is no longer able to legally use foster homes in the State of New Hampshire, so they could not even take her back into another foster home. My choices now are to adopt sight unseen through a rescue organization or see if any of the local shelters have a healthy, adoptable dog that I want to adopt from a cage. Also, I agreed to return Scilly to Canine Guardians for Life, Inc., if at any time in the future, I can no longer provide a home for her. Should that unfortunate circumstance ever arise, I would not be able to honor my commitment since the organization, through no fault of its own, has effectively been stripped of its ability to pursue its charitable mission of helping homeless dogs.

If you agree with me that this is unfair, I invite you take a virtual hike with Foster Dog Summit. Your own dog can join you for this virtual hike. Send an email to the State Veterinarian along with a photo of your dog and the Subject heading, "Why is Fostering Healthy, Adoptable Dogs Now Illegal?" You can also post a photo on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media site.  Please use hashtags #fosterdogsummit and #nhpolitics so that your posts can be located and shared. The NH Department of Agriculture has a Facebook page and a Twitter account, so you can post there too!

I am going to send and share my dog's photo along with this blog post, and I welcome you to join me.

You do not have to own a rescue dog to take this virtual hike. You can send any dog photo that you wish. If you would also like to share a story about the positive experiences that you have had volunteering with, adopting from or contributing time or money to a rescue group operating in New Hampshire that is impacted by this rule change, it would be extremely beneficial for the State Veterinarian as well as your State Senators and State Representatives to hear about it as well.

The law needs to be changed.

Here are some helpful resources and links to learn more and share.

Learn more about Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. and see some of the hundreds of dogs that have gotten a second chance thanks to their dedicated volunteer efforts.

We do not want to return to a situation where animals are being euthanized for space in the State of New Hampshire. In the early 1990s, nearly 12,000 animals were euthanized each year in New Hampshire shelters. Watch and share - A Community Comes Together to Save Homeless Animals - the New Hampshire Story (2012) -to see how education, legislation and sterilization brought NH to where it is today. 

Fostering dogs should live free not die in New Hampshire!

A Starr is Reborn at Round Pond

Starr takes first steps into Round Pond

I know what you are thinking. This is Foster Dog Summit. The first photo on a blog post is almost always what I consider to be the best summit shot that I took of the hike. I always aim to reach a summit, then position the dog as best he or she is capable of sitting or standing against a scenic background, and take as many photos as possible in the hopes that one of several will be "card worthy" so to speak. And since I am a strictly amateur photographer who shoots exclusively with one hand on the camera and the other hand on the leash, those "Wow, what a great photo" moments are not as plentiful as I would like.

So, this photo, like most of the ones I take, is far from perfect. It is not framed correctly - the dog's tail is a bit cut off to the left, and you can see my hiking boot in the far right corner. Sure, I could have photo-shopped out the boot and edited in a bit of the dog's tail from another photo, but this is a reality blog.

At this point in the hike, I was lamenting the fact that I had taken a time consuming wrong turn along the Round Pond Trail. Then, I did not backtrack far enough initially to figure out the wrong turn and wound up not having time to reach the summits of Mts. Klem and Mack. Since I was hiking with Starr, a dog that had lived his entire life of just over four years within the confines of a shelter in rural Mississippi, I had high hopes for his first extended outdoor adventure.

Charlie and Starr hiking the Round Pond Trail

Starr, a 4-year old Labrador retriever mix, was just rescued from the shelter less than two weeks ago. He has obviously been well taken care of physically by the shelter staff, but most of the world outside of cages and concrete is wholly unfamiliar to him. That did not stop Starr from thoroughly wagging his tail and enjoying the company of his human and canine hiking companions. My friend Karen and her adopted dog Charlie joined us for the lengthy stroll around the Round Pond Trail.

Starr was so affectionate that it was difficult to photograph him. He kept trying to lick my hand, so I could not get far enough away to take his photo when we stopped along the trail.

Starr's feet are dry thanks to Girl Scout Troop 10304
in Gilford who constructed Bog Bridge in 2013!

We had selected a more secluded hike in an attempt to minimize Starr's interactions with sights and sounds that completely unknown to him. He was understandably a bit spooked by the sight of a mountain biker coming towards us on the trail.  Starr simply needs more time to acclimate to his new surroundings as he was a bit startled and wanted to retreat, but he was not at all aggressive towards the unfamiliar sights and sounds.

It was shortly after this encounter that we made our way to the shores of Round Pond and the opportunity for Starr to have his first encounter with fresh water - an element that most Labrador retrievers find instantly addicting. I was privileged to witness Starr's joy as he took his first few paddles into the pond. You can view and share them from the post below:

That priceless moment when a dog that spent his whole life living in a shelter learns how life should be. Starr's trip...
Posted by Foster Dog Summit on Sunday, June 14, 2015

 

Following our 4-hour tour, Starr was ready for a nap and rested comfortably and quietly in the backseat as I drove him back to his wonderful foster family. He currently resides in a foster home with adults, a 7-year old girl and other dogs - all of whom adore "Starsky" and are helping him acclimate to life outside a shelter. If you or a friend or family member would like to inquire about Starr, please visit Almost Home Rescue of New England to learn more or visit Starr's petfinder profile.

If you cannot adopt but would like to help, please consider donating towards a wish list item to help the shelter in Mississippi where Starr's friends still reside.

See you on the trails!

 

Sunshine with Sammy on Mt. Israel

Sammy soaking in the sunshine at the summit of Mt. Israel

With a slow start to Spring and having been away from the trails over the past several weeks, I was excited to soak in the sun recently with Sammy en route to the summit of Mt. Israel (2,630 ft.).  My hiking companion has been waiting very patiently to see his report from our trek along the Wentworth Trail that took place back on May 18, 2013.  Since I have been busy with caring for my almost 16-year old dog's health issues the last few weeks, I am grateful for Sammy's patience.

All smiles along the Wentworth Trail

Three-year old Sammy is a sweet mix of shepherd and hound who is searching for his second chance family.  He is very much a ladies man and continues to make great strides with the men in his life.  Sammy greeted me as if he had known me forever and was very comfortable and well behaved during the car ride to the trailhead.  


Braving the black flies

He is doing remarkably well in his foster home and working to overcome his suspicions of some men he encounters.  Knowing that Sammy was not totally comfortable with all men and may bark at them, I chose an out and back trail to a peak that would be less crowded than its more popular neighboring summits of Mts. Percival and Morgan.  Taking an out and back route with a dog who is overcoming some fears lessens the number of unfamiliar people and places that he will encounter. 



Enjoying the views from above

Our plan worked well, and we were fortunate in that the first fellow hikers we encountered on the trail had previous experience with a dog who had some fears of men.  This friendly couple and their well behaved pair of Labrador retrievers kindly gave a little bit more room on the trail as Sammy and I made our way past them.  Sammy was fine, and I made a point of staying between him and the unfamiliar man on the trail.  The rest of our journey was filled mostly with black flies and only a handful of other hikers.  Sammy did well walking past others on the trail and even tolerated a rather boisterous off leash dog that quickly ran up to greet us as we approached the summit.

On the ride home

Our return trip was similarly uneventful, and Sammy is looking forward to more hikes in the future.  Of course, I always hope that each of my hikers finds a new home before they have an opportunity to visit the trails with me again.  However, I would welcome the chance to spend another sunny day with Sammy.  An album of photos from our hike is available here.

To learn more about Sammy, view his Petfinder.com profile here.  If you would like to support other rescue dogs in need through becoming a foster home or by making a donation, visit Almost Home Rescue.

See you on the trails!

Thinking Spring with Petey on Pack Monadnock

Petey making his way on the snow covered trail.

Winter got a late start this year in New Hampshire, and it seems determined to stick around long after it has worn out its welcome.  The skiing conditions have been wonderful, but I am now ready for a change of season.  Last Sunday, I was determined to get a taste of Spring on the trails, so I headed south for Pack Monadnock (2,290 ft.) in the hopes that the trails would be mostly clear of the white stuff yet not too full of the muddy stuff.  What I found instead was much more snow from top to bottom than I had anticipated.  And while that would not otherwise have posed a problem, I also realized at the trailhead that my microspikes were not in the back of the car where I thought I had left them.

Petey questioning my preparedness

Thankfully, my boots have good tread and I was able to choose a route that was mostly in the sun.  So, my hiking companion Petey and I set out for the top of Pack Monadnock via an out and back 2.8 mile trip along the Marion Davis Trail.  While the trail was well packed and mostly slushy and not icy, the spikes would have made for a quicker descent.  Of course, I did not have to worry about Petey pulling on a leash or otherwise complicating our hike in any way.  So, we did not mind taking our time and carefully watching our steps along the way on such a beautiful and sunny day. 

Enjoying a sunny, dry section of the trail

We only encountered two other hikers on our way to the summit.  As I introduced my companion with, "This is Petey," the first hiker replied, "So am I, and so is he."  After chatting briefly with the Peters and asking that they share Petey's blog post with family and friends, we continued to the top of Pack Monadnock where we met with a few other hikers.  Petey kindly made the acquaintance of more hikers and posed for several photos.  He is a perfect gentleman in every way.

At the summit of Pack Monadnock

Found wandering as a stray in West Virginia last year, Petey made his way to New Hampshire late last fall and has been wintering in a foster home while waiting patiently for a family to adopt him.  Peter's early grey muzzle makes him appear older than his estimated six years of age, but he hikes like a dog half his age.  In addition to his distinguished appearance, Petey is completely friendly with everyone he encounters, including humans, canines and felines of all ages and sizes.  They say that 10 is the new 5 in dog ages, so the family who welcomes Petey into their home will have many happy, rewarding years of companionship ahead of them.

Smiling for the camera and the new friends he met!

You can learn more about Petey, share him with family and friends, and submit an application for adoption here on his Petfinder profile page. A full album of photos from Petey's hike to the top of Pack Monadnock is available online here at the Foster Dog Summit facebook page.  To support the efforts of Petey's rescue group with a contribution or to inquire about fostering a dog, please visit Canine Guardians for Life, Inc.

See you on the trails!

Back with Buck on Catamount Hill

Buck enjoying the snow on Catamount Hill

After a work induced winter break lasting several weeks, I was looking forward to returning to the trails. My latest canine hiking companion Buck joined me along with my friend Karen for a snowshoe adventure to the top of Catamount Hill.  

Buck patiently waiting for us to decide which way to hike

Three year old Buck is a large Labrador retriever mix who recently arrived after an extended stay at a shelter in Arkansas.  From the very start of our trek through the snow, Buck did not show any signs of having a preference for the warmer climate he enjoyed in the South.  He handled the hike of a few miles in the snow as if he was born and raised in New England.



Nearing the summit and staying warm

As we made our way along the One Mile Trail en route to the Catamount Hill Trail, we encountered a few snowmobiles, but Buck was not at all bothered by the unfamiliar sights and sounds.  He also walked very politely on his leash and was as equally content in leading the way as he was in following the tracks of our snowshoes.
 

Buck's foster mom packed a warm and rather attractive winter coat for him to wear on his hike.  While the mild temperatures did not warrant an extra layer, I do regret not dressing Buck briefly for the sake of fashion to show off his coat!  And, as I have learned, adding a bit of color to a black dog often makes for a better photo, especially in low light conditions.



Clearing the obstacles in his path

Despite the snowfall and lack of sunlight, we still managed to take a number of photos during Buck's winter adventure that are available for viewing here.  I  had planned to have Buck wear his coat if we were given another opportunity to hike together.  However, I have since learned that I may not get a second hike with him because Buck has an adoption application pending.


Ready for the ride home!

We are hopeful for a perfect match and that Buck will be in a forever home very soon!  In the meantime, I invite you to visit the website for Almost Home Rescue to see the many other wonderful dogs waiting for forever homes.  

See you on the trails!

Bullet Takes Aim at Bald Knob and Finds a Home

Beautiful Bullet posing for a photo en route to the summit

It has been two weeks since my last hike, and I have not yet posted about my adventure with Bullet - a wonderfully handsome and extremely kind Labrador retriever mix who recently accompanied me to the summit of Bald Knob in the Ossipee mountain range.


Bullet enjoying the ride

Before we began our hike, however, Bullet and I had an appointment to meet with a potential adopter at her home in central New Hampshire.  As we drove along to our destination, Bullet rode quietly stretched out in the backseat.  He was equally respectful when we arrived at our destination and met with the woman who was interested in adopting him.  She had considered several online profiles of dogs at Petfinder.com via Almost Home Rescue, and Bullet seemed best suited for this person's active lifestyle and love of the outdoors.  She is also a personal acquaintance who lives nearby and knew that I spent time hiking with foster dogs.  I was more than happy to schedule Bullet for a pre-hike visit to her home in the hopes that they would be a perfect match!



Bullet checks out the fenced in area of the backyard

Following a walk around the neighborhood that included a meeting with one of the other dogs who lives on the street, Bullet had the opportunity to check out the house and yard.  He seemed to greatly approve, and he was a perfect gentleman both inside the home and while exploring the fenced in area outside.

Having concluded our visit and hopeful that a perfect match had been made, it was time for Bullet to head back to his foster home.  Along the way, we stopped for a quick hike to the top of Bald Knob.  While a straight hike up the Bald Knob Trail is arguably more interesting and challenging, I opted for the Shannon Brook/Bald Knob Cutoff route in an effort to avoid hunters who may be on the property closest to the road.  As Bullet and I encountered two hunters on their way out via the Shannon Brook Trail, our choice of routes was confirmed. 

Sitting for the camera

Bullet has impressive leash manners and obviously enjoys taking in all the sights and sounds that the woods have to offer.  And while my amateur camera skills are always challenged by the task of photographing black dogs, Bullet's stunning good looks and warm expressions are so plentiful that even I could capture them. 

Looking in the direction of his new home!

While I typically end my posts with a link to a Petfinder profile where you can learn more about my hiking companion of the day, Bullet has officially been adopted by the person who met with him before our hike and will be moving into his new home at the start of the New Year!  I do invite you to view the album of photos from his hike that are available online here and to watch a You Tube video showing how far Bullet has come since being rescued.  Link to Bullet's video is available here if your browser does not display it below.



Happy Holidays!  See you on the trails!

The First Two Seasons Now on Video

Marvin taking in the views from Mts. Welch and Dickey

The first two seasons of Foster Dog Summit are now on video.  Special thanks to rescue groups - Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. and Almost Home Rescue of Maine - for providing the second chances for first hikes and forever homes.

Favorite photos and previously unseen footage from the 2011 and 2012 seasons are now available on You Tube. 

Click here for link to video if your browser does not display it below.

See you on the trails!

Wandering with Foster Dog Willow to Round Pond

Willow on the way to Round Pond

Did you know that November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month?  My hiking companion Willow had no idea that there was an entire month dedicated to encouraging people to adopt a senior pet.  Nor does this lovely 11-year old black Labrador mix consider herself a senior!  After hiking several hours with Willow along the Red/Blue and Red Trails leading from Camp Bell to Round Pond in the Belknap Mountain range, I have to agree that she does not act her age.



Views from the Red Trail looking towards
Belknap Mountain

Willow had a bit of warm up to our hike after I began by making a wrong turn and starting out in a direction away from our initial destination of hiking the loop around Mts. Klem and Mack.  I was following a route from a trip report that someone had filed online, and I did not have a full map of the area in hand.  While the question, "Am I heading in the right direction"? can often be solved with a phone call or a quick visit online, I did not have cell service either.  This was not a difficult wrong turn to correct, and I was not in danger of getting lost, but it was a waste of time and rendered me less than fully prepared.  So, now I have two very nice full-color trail maps of the entire Belkap Mountain range.  They are available for sale at the Gilford Public Library.

The porcupine we met en route

Once Willow and I circled back and made our way to the start of the Red Trail, we enjoyed a wonderful walk to the edge of Round Pond.  We encountered a rather larger porcupine en route, but he or she graciously yielded the right of way by scaling a tree as we got close.  Trail signs of coyote and moose were especially evident as we approached the pond, but both creatures fully escaped our view.

Time to turn around and head home

After we reached Round Pond, I was confident that Willow had the energy to complete the loop over to Mts. Klem and Mack.  Unfortunately, the amount of daylight remaining did not equal this 11-year old's energy level.  So, we opted for an out and back and made our way back the route we traveled.  While I did not have a complete trail map for this location, I do carry a headlamp in the event that darkness falls before a hike is finished.

Smiling for the camera!

Willow led the way to our hike's conclusion with daylight to spare.  After several dozen photos along the route, I think Willow just may have overcome some of her camera shyness as she finished strong and with a smile on her face.  This sweet girl is hoping to have a home for the holidays where she will bring much joy to her new family.  A complete album of Willow's journey is available online here, and you can learn more about her and other rescue dogs waiting for their forever homes by visiting Almost Home Rescue.

See you on the trails!

Last Look at Fall with Isis on Kearsarge

Isis on Mt. Kearsarge

Since the foliage was past peak in the White Mountains, I decided to take foster dog Isis for one last look at fall a bit further south and west on Mt. Kearsarge (2,937 ft.).  Isis was along for a small group hike this fine fall day that felt quite a bit more like summer.  A few days of rain earlier in the week had left the trails rather slick, so we opted for the steeper route to the summit via the Winslow Trail and reserved the longer Barlow Trail for the slippery descent.

Umbry and Isis on the trail

My friend Karen hiked with Isis while I trekked along with foster dog Umbry who is residing with me temporarily while waiting for his adoptive home.  Isis, who was initially quite shy when she first entered her foster home, has made great progress and steadily increased her level of confidence.  She quickly accepted both Karen and me and also interacted well with fellow hikers on the trails.



Happy to be hiking

With portions of the well worn trails resembling streams at times, Karen and I were grateful that Isis had impressive leash manners that allowed us to climb slowly yet steadily and remain on our feet.  Of course, this lovely Labrador retriever mix showed us just how much she loves water by happily splashing through even the deepest of puddles along the route.

Time to start back down the trail

At the summit, Isis displayed more interest in enjoying the views and taking a nap than she did in posing for photos.  After a few pictures, some snacks and a water break, Isis was refueled, rested and ready for the descent.  Thankfully, Isis was equally capable of walking politely on her leash during the entire way down the Barlow Trail.  She did not display any signs of any shyness with her tail wagging the entire trip back to the trailhead at Winslow State Park.  Click here or see below for a video of Isis making her way down the Barlow Trail.

Slow and steady on the descent

A full album of photos from the hike is available online here.  To learn more about Isis and other dogs currently available for adoption or if you would like to consider becoming a foster home for a homeless dog in need, please visit Almost Home Rescue.

See you on the trails!

Kenzi Goes Leaf Peeping on Piper Mountain

Kenzi at the summit of Piper Mountain

Already a few weeks into autumn, and my work schedule combined with a few rainy weekend days had been keeping me away from the trails.  The foliage was at its peak over the Columbus Day weekend, and I was in search of a canine to accompany me on a hike.  So, I was thrilled to receive an inquiry from Kenzi's foster family member Michaela who was also looking for a holiday weekend outing that would be suitable for her 10-month old foster dog Kenzi and her own 7-year old rescue dog Zeke.  


Zeke, Michaela and foster dog Kenzi posing with the
colors of fall 

After several months of solo hiking one dog at a time, I was looking forward to a small group outing and the opportunity to further showcase the lovely Kenzi.  It is shocking to me that this wonderful, young girl has been overlooked for several weeks now.  All along the Piper Mountain Trail, Kenzi was as pleasant and well-behaved as the first time I hiked with her to top of Mt. Major back in August.

Kenzi kindly greets a Dachshund on the trail

Kenzi and her foster brother Zeke were both extremely polite with everyone - human and canine - they met en route to the top of Piper Mountain (2,042 ft.).  The 2-mile round trip out and back trek to this summit in the Belknap Mountain Range is the perfect fall hike when you are in search of big views but have little time to spend.

Patiently waiting for a home of her own

As we walked along, I asked Michaela to tell me more about how Kenzi interacts with the other members of her foster family.  In short, Kenzi is the ideal guest who gets along with people and dogs of all ages.  While the family does not include cats, Kenzi has not caused any trouble for the the bunny in the household.  She is also fully house and crate trained.

We are confident that the perfect family is out there waiting to welcome this well-trained girl with golden eyes and matching coat.




Kenzi exploring the summit

To learn more about Kenzi and to complete an application to adopt her, please visit her profile online at Petfinder.com.  From there, you can read more about the experiences in her foster home and also obtain more information about her rescue organization.  If you are interested in becoming a foster home or would like to make a donation to support more dogs in need of rescue, please visit Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. to support their efforts with a contribution of time or treasure!  A full photo album of Kenzi and Zeke's hike is also available on the Foster Dog Summit facebook page.

Carley Seeks Second Home on Sandwich Dome

Carley at 10 months of age hiking on Bald Knob

When I first hiked with Carley on Turtleback Mountain back in January, the 10-month old Labrador retriever/terrier mix was pending adoption to a new family along with her sister Juney.  Unfortunately for Carley, the family quickly determined that they were better situated to adopt only one dog, and they opted for her sibling Juney.  Shortly thereafter, Carley was adopted into a new home where she resided for the last eight months before being returned due to changes in family circumstances that were beyond her control. 

While I felt sorry for the many bumps on the road that Carley had experienced en route to a permanent home, I was not at all disappointed to be hiking with her again recently on Sandwich Mountain (3,980 ft.) during Labor Day weekend.



Carley at 18 months on the Sandwich Mountain Trail

Rescue groups do their best to ensure a perfect match for each of the dogs with a thorough application process, but there are instances when an initial placement is not a good fit and the dog needs to go to a different home.  The reasons for a dog needing to be put back up for adoption are varied.  The dog may not get along with other pets in the household or a family's situation may have changed to the extent that their schedule or income can no longer support a pet in the household. 

Crossing the brook

When I began Foster Dog Summit and wanted to devote my volunteer efforts to hiking with and blogging about dogs in need of a second chance, I sought assurance from the rescue groups that all dogs who were placed for adoption would receive adequate follow up and, if necessary, would be replaced into second or even third homes if an initial adoption does not succeed.  I did not want any hikers to be placed for adoption and then possibly be surrendered to an animal shelter because the rescue group was not able to handle a second placement for them.  Both Almost Home Rescue of Maine and Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. are very reputable rescue groups who stand by their commitment that a dog can be returned and will be placed into a home that is a better fit.

When I arrived to pick up Carley for our second hike to the top of Sandwich Mountain, I was thrilled to learn that another family had already made an application to adopt her into their home.  I was not at all surprised that Carley would find another home so quickly.  She was as kind and gentle as she had been during our first hike eight months earlier.  With a rainy start to our steep climb up the Sandwich Mountain Trail, I was more than a little grateful for Carley's careful pace and skillful leash manners. 

 

The view from Noon Peak

As we made our way to the summit, the sun began steadily peeking through the treetops, and I had high hopes for some wonderful views en route to the top of Sandwich Dome.  Carley and I enjoyed a peaceful water break at Noon Peak where the suddenly brighter weather provided a spectacular backdrop for photos.  And since Carley seemed to be enjoying the views as well, I chose to photograph the ledge from her perspective.

We met Sam the Puggle on Jennings Peak

As we continued our trek along the Sandwich Mountain Trail, we did not encounter any other hikers until we reached the top of Jennings Peak where several hikers and a few dogs were enjoying the early afternoon sunshine and discussing the various routes they had traveled along Sandwich Mountain that morning.  Carley was very respectful of her fellow canine hikers, and we were delighted to make the acquaintance of Sam the Puggle.

Meet and greet with Tilly

A bit further up the trail as we made our way down from Jennings Peak and towards the summit, Carley and I had the opportunity to meet Tilly and her hiking companion who insisted on taking a group photo that we promised to share.  The hikers and I are always grateful for volunteer photographers when we meet on the trails.

Carley at the summit of Sandwich Mountain

After experiencing a thankfully dry climb to the summit and taking in so many sunny views, we did not spend too much time at the summit as the clouds started to roll in overhead.  We snapped a few photos and chatted with some hikers at the top of the mountain before making our descent down the Drakes Brook Trail.

Carley looking beautiful on the descent

While my posts from the trail usually conclude with a request that readers visit and share a dog's Petfinder.com profile, I am happy to report that Carley's pending application for adoption was approved!  She has been happily residing with her new family for several days now, and they are very excited to have her in their home.  We do invite you to view her online photo album here.

See you on the trails!