Hiking Hounds is one of the most popular Asheville Humane Society volunteer activities. Each month, volunteers take shelter dogs on hikes as part of the enrichment programming. You'll spend a few hours in Bent Creek hiking the trails with dogs who will love you for it.

Hiking Hounds takes place on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 starting at 9 AM.

Spots for two new hikers will be available on each hike.

If you are a new hiker… once you sign up for a hike you will be sent a link to a virtual orientation. You must watch this, and sign a waiver before attending a hike. All new hikers will come on their first hike without a dog; you will be paired with a hiking buddy to become familiar with the process of the program, and make sure this is an activity you will enjoy. 

If you are a seasoned volunteer… you are asked to watch the orientation as a refresher and you will be sent the link when you sign up for a hike.  

Note: New and repeat hikers alike are required to sign up in advance. If you'd like to sign up for this hike, email ahshikinghounds@outlook.com. Hikers are signed up on a "first come-first serve basis" and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend a hike. If you don’t get an email from Hiking Hounds, assume they didn’t get yours!

Please be sure you can actually make the hike; if we have late cancellations, a dog gets left behind without a hike.

Start time is 9 AM. Hikes are typically 3-5 miles at a brisk pace with elevation changes and provide vigorous exercise for our volunteer hikers as well. They do not cancel hikes because of rain, as our pups don’t mind getting wet. Hikers generally return to the shelter at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville around 11:30 AM to 12 PM.

Hiking Hounds operates with the following updated protocol: PLEASE READ 

 AHS has relaxed their masking requirements for vaccinated individuals. Hiking Hounds has made some changes to our protocol as well:

• We will continue to ask all volunteers to stay in the parking lot, and not come into the front of the building. The hike leaders will sign in the volunteers and will bring the dogs out to them; it is safer for the dogs to keep them outside.  
• We will maintain a 6 foot bubble as usual, for the safety of our volunteers and the dog's safety and comfort; this includes the parking lot and the trail. 
•  We will continue to eliminate bandanas and cards about the dogs; we can promote them thru social media.
• We will continue to have one hiker go ahead of our caravan with all the Arboretum passes. That hiker will alert the security personal at the gate & will swipe ALL the passes so each hiker does not have to handle them. 
• When we return to the shelter, all volunteers will again stay outdoors and the hike leaders will come get your dog. This is our normal procedure as our dogs always need social distancing.  
• All equipment that we use will be sanitized between hikes.

 For more information visit the Hiking Hounds Facebook page.

The Blue Ridge Humane Society Historic 7th Avenue District "Pup Crawl," sponsored by Hunter Subaru, will be held on Saturday, October 23 in Hendersonville.

Dog owners and pet lovers tour the Historic 7^th Avenue District businesses and participate in the  Historic 7^th Avenue District Pup Crawl benefiting Blue Ridge Humane Society.  Each stop will feature a pet giveaway or treat as well as an interactive activity hosted by a local pet-centric business such as paw print painting, paw reading, agility course, and more!

Pup Crawl Stops and Activities:

• Guidon Brewing Company: Ask a Trainer with Sue Garrett from Hendo Dogs, Canine Harvest with treat samples, $1 per full pour house beer sold donated to BRHS, and house-made doggie treats.
• Southern Appalachian Brewery: Paw Painting with Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, house-made treats, $1 per full pour of house brewed beer donated to BRHS, and food truck.
• The Brandy Bar: Dog agility course, dog treats, $1 per house drink donated to BRHS, food vendor. (The Brandy Bar is a private club and requires a $1 membership due to NC ABC regulations). 
• Triskelion Brewing Company: Paw Reading, Pup Cones, and Brew Chews doggie treats, live music in the court yard, and food truck.

Additional activities and locations may be added.

Cost:

• $20 individual dog
• $30 family (2+ dogs)

How it Works:

Purchase your pupport online, over the phone at (828) 692-2639, or day of at the Blue Ridge Humane tables at any of the stops. Pupports are available one per dog or per family and include pet treats (if you bring your pup) and access to a variety of activities just for the canine brewery and bar visitors. You can also participate without a pup so bring your favorite brewery buddy along too!

Check in at the Blue Ridge Humane table at any of the participating locations and receive your Pupport! The Pupport gives you access to pet treats and activities at each stop along the way. As you stop for a drink and an activity make sure to get your Pupport stamped at each bar. Once you collect all the stamps check back in at the Blue Ridge Humane table at the last location you’re at and enter for the Grand Prize drawing with tons of swag and goodies for you and your pup from our hosts!

To ensure a puptacular day for all…

1. Check your dog’s health and mood before he/she joins us. If your dog is not feeling 100% or seems irritable, please keep him/her home for the day. You will be showing them just as much love by keeping them resting in non-ideal circumstances.
2. Enjoy togetherness while you explore by keeping your dog on his/her favorite leash. Do not, however, use a long (6 ft or more) leash. Also- help your dog by staying in control. Public events can be busy places with a lot of stimuli for dogs. Keep them calm so they can have a good time with you on a special day out.
3. Bring along some means to keep your doggie hydrated. There will be water stations at each location but you may want your own portable dish or squirt bottle for your pup.

CDC recommendations will be followed and we ask that all participants practice safe distancing and masking for the safety of our hosts, volunteers, community, and staff.

According to the Animal Farm Foundation, your dog can be discriminated against because of breed:

The insurance industry uses arbitrary dog breed lists to deny homeowners and renters insurance coverage and discriminate against insurance consumers. 

People are unable to get insurance or must pay a higher premium because the insurance company deems their dog “dangerous” based solely on how it looks. These lists are not based in scientific research, nor are they based on a dog’s individual behavior.

For many, breed restrictions in housing insurance create a terrible choice: having a safe, affordable, and accessible home or separating from a beloved family member.

These restrictions do not simply run the very real risk of separating dogs from owners, they separate and traumatize families.

Check out this helpful website to learn more about this unfair practice and what you can do about it https://dogspeopleandhousinginsurance.org/

Photo by David Taffet on Unsplash

Nothing could be finer than a hike in Carolina in the morning... especially with dogs! If you're looking to enjoy the beautiful outdoors with some deserving dogs and animal lovers, consider becoming a volunteer hiker for Asheville Humane Society's "Mountain Mutts." The more hikers, the more dogs that get some quality time outside of the animal shelter.

Mountain Mutts convenes in the parking lot at Asheville Humane Society (Forever Friend Lane, off Pond and Brevard Roads near the WNC Farmers Market) every Monday and Wednesday morning beginning at 8:30 AM. The Monday hike is about 4 to 5 miles, while the Wednesday hike is slightly easier at 3 to 4 miles on flatter trails.

New hikers are encouraged to join Mountain Mutts, but you must first register as a volunteer and go through some basic training. If you have an interest, please contact the Asheville Humane volunteer coordinator, Kelly Paul by email: volunteer@ashevillehumane.org or by phone: (828) 761-2001 ext. 307.

Image: Asheville Humane Society Mountain Mutts