Bring them home for good!

Well, we are finally official!  We received our non-profit status, and just in time for a big rescue effort! But more on that in a minute...

For those of you who have been with us for awhile, you know our mission has always been the same.  We bring in sled dogs from all around North America and give them a continued lease on life!  This place is the Island of Misfit Toys for sled dogs.  All are welcome here to keep running and working if they are able, or live out their lives happily and comfortably, often waiting for an adoptive home, sometimes staying here until the rainbow bridge.  Dan Piano, gifted carpenter and fearless leader of the Snow Buddies (two and four-legged) built us a world-class facility and we're proud to house 50 semi-retired endurance racing sled dogs in comfortable pens where dogs live in pairs (every Buddy has a Buddy :). All dogs have access to the play yards and our 10 acre compound for social time throughout the year and the warm barn for sleeping on cold nights (or just if an old dog likes it in there).

Back to the reason for this fundraiser.  In the last year, three kennels in our vicinity or circle of friends have closed up shop.  We have taken in a number of wonderful and beloved dogs from close friends who found themselves in an hour of need.  It's been a boon for us to have such happy healthy dogs land here and quickly funnel into the working dog population to hit the trail up on Dunckley Pass, where we teach our guests about the art of dog driving.  This mission is different.  When Sarah and Dan lived in Alaska seasonally, they worked on a glacier outside Juneau. There were always puppies born on the ice and staff on the ice field helped raise the puppies to become some of the hardest working and best socialized race dogs around.  The dogs were like family and it was hard to say goodbye when we stopped going to Alaska and began our human family here.

We recently found out some of these dogs have fallen on very hard times.  The man who was keeping them couldn't feed, house or care for his 20+ dogs properly, for myriad personal reasons.  Five of the dogs in his possession were pups Dan and Sarah helped raise during their time in Alaska.  They have a special place in our hearts and they are in trouble.  The dogs were seized by law enforcement in Washington state a few weeks ago and they officially went up for adoption a week ago.  Many of the dogs quickly found homes, but not the shy ones or the old dogs in the worst shape.  We have agreed to take the 7 remaining from the 20+ and they are on their way here as of about an hour ago!

There will be a lot of bills to pay here the moment the dogs arrive, hopefully by Friday.  We will need to get them to vet immediately, get rid of parasites, spay and neuter, take care of neglected teeth and treat a couple of dogs with pannus (an autoimmune disease that causes a callus on the eye and blindness that we hope to reverse).  We are hoping to raise $20,000 to start to help with vet bills, building a few more dog houses, and the increase in the board around here to house and feed some oldies but goodies who likely never pull in harness again, but could live out a happy ending here at Snow Buddy.

I will post pictures and updates from our transporter Matthew.  Every little bit helps!  Please help spread the word and send love and prayers for all involved here for a successful rescue mission.

A round of husky hugs and so much gratitude from all your Snow Buddies