Cover Dogs

Josie & Drew

According to her DNA test, Josie is a 13-years young Husky/Bernese Mountain Dog/ Australian Shepherd/ Boston Terrier/Vizsla, and maybe more! She was approximately two years old when she was adopted from the Beaverhead County Humane Society in July 2012 and had been at the shelter for almost a year at the time of her adoption. Her owner advises people not to overlook the quiet dogs in the back at the shelter! After settling into her new home, she became a volunteer with her owner as a therapy dog, and Josie loved helping children learn to love reading as a R.E.A.D. dog (Reading Education Assistance Dog) and helped show them how to safely approach unfamiliar dogs in dog safety demonstrations. Josie now enjoys retirement from therapy work with daily walks and many hikes with her owner and her companion, Drew.

Drew is approximately four years old and a mixed breed (Husky/Rottweiler/Australian Cattle Dog/Border Collie and 1% Chihuahua!). He was turned into a shelter in Twin Falls, Idaho, after being captured as a stray in July 2022. He was not claimed in Idaho, nor was there any interest shown in adopting him, so he was taken to the Beaverhead County Humane Society and had just arrived at the shelter when Josie’s owner was looking for a companion for Josie in September 2022. After enduring Josie’s cold shoulder for the first weekend in his new home, Drew settled in and they are now great companions. Their owner couldn’t be more pleased. Drew is living his best life and thriving! He enjoys car rides and spending as much time as he can with his owner as a 50-pound lapdog.

Boots

Boots’s story is an inspiring tale of overcoming challenges. He had been hit by a car on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. As a dark colored, crippled dog, the odds were against him for adoption, but his present owners swooped in to save Boots and rehabilitate his physical and emotional injuries. “Boots was surrendered in Browning to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society during a spay and neuter clinic in July 2016,” says his owner, “and we adopted him the following month. He is labeled ‘Pit X’ on the shelter papers, so Pit Bull mix is the official guess.” Today, Boots puts his heart into volunteer work as a therapy dog, visiting veterans at Helena’s VA Hospital in the North Valley, visiting female inmates at Elkhorn Treatment Center in Boulder, and enjoying any opportunity to visit with kids, like at summer camps.

Obi Aza

Obi’s African name means “heart and strong, powerful.” He’s a busy puppy who enjoys chasing butterflies, camping, going for hikes, digging, having puppy play dates, zooming around the yard, and relaxing with the people in his life. He's busy this summer taking puppy classes and socializing as he grows into his enormous paws! Obi shares his space with Jake (a Border Collie) and his feline friends Benny Bing and Fitzi Jones. Obi’s favorite foods are, in addition to his favorite puppy food, boiled eggs, cooked sweet potato cubes, blueberries, strawberries, and dog treats of ALL types!

Obi is super outgoing, lovable, attentive, and curious. He may enjoy becoming a therapy dog in the future. He’ll definitely try out agility and scent work to see if he has a favorite canine sport. We’re sure he’ll have a great time in whatever activities he participates in!

Blue Sapphire

When she was 3 months old, Blue spent a magical month with four boyfriends (three Golden Retrievers, including Jimmy, plus Dakota, a Springer Spaniel) while her owner recovered from surgery. Her owner had high hopes that Blue would follow in her predecessor’s pawprints to become a therapy dog, but Blue had other ideas! She keeps her family on their toes keeping up with her high energy, and Blue has excelled at bird hunting, scent work, and long trail runs – and of course, chasing tennis balls and playing in water. Hiking and running with her boyfriends (especially Dash, an Irish Terrier) is always a peak experience, but at home, she’s a relaxed, affectionate 70-pound lap dog.

Dakota, Jimmy, & Scarlett

Dakota is a handsome field Spaniel from North Dakota who was bred for bird hunting. He can run all day long, over any kind of terrain. Even though he is very active, he knows how to relax with a good bone. He loves water and just checking things out. Though somewhat independent, he has a sensitive side and will always be there if you’re feeling a little down. He gets along well with other dogs, loves to go on walks, and loves to ride in the truck because you never know what adventure may be down the road. Dakota lives with Golden Retrievers Jimmy and Scarlett.

Jimmy is a real sweetheart. Being the runt of the litter, he had a rough start in life. It was uncertain whether he would even make it through his first year, but he began thriving after that, growing to a full-size Golden. He has a very sweet personality and loves to be held and cuddled. His happiness is shown by overwhelming squealing, and he would enjoy being petted all day long, if only he could get it. Jimmy lives with Dakota (Springer Spaniel) and Scarlett (Golden Retriever).

Scarlett was the runt of her litter, but she grew up to be a very pretty girl and is extremely smart and learns tricks easily because she will do anything for food. Scarlett never passes up an opportunity to get wet…she loves the water. She also loves raspberries and will even pick them herself right off the bush. Her passions in life are doing tricks, hunting for baseballs at the park, and playing tug of war with any person or dog who is willing. After a long day, she enjoys lying on the bed and having her face groomed by the family cat. Scarlett lives with Jimmy (Golden Retriever) and Dakota (Springer Spaniel).

Penny, Mo, Dollie, & Gypsy

Penny was adopted from Broadus, Montana, as a pup. Penny is very independent and loving, but she has a stubborn streak when it comes to following rules, such as staying on leash while walking. “She throws fits if she doesn't get her way,” says her owner. Penny lives with Alamo (Great Dane), Dollie (Australian Shepherd), and Gypsy (German Shepherd).

Alamo was born in Georgia and came to Montana at a young age. “I adopted him from the daughter of a friend who was getting stationed in Hawaii,” says his owner. “He is extremely regal, very sweet and likes to go to bed early and get up late. In his younger days he could outrun all of my other dogs because of his lengthy stride.” Alamo lives with Penny (Boston Terrier), Dollie (Australian Shepherd), and Gypsy (German Shepherd).

Dollie’s owner adopted her from a family in Circle, Montana, when she was eight months old. She was having trouble getting along with their children. “Dollie is very loyal and loving but likes her own space,” says her new mom. “She gets grumpy in the afternoon and does not like to share food.” Dollie lives with Penny (Boston Terrier), Alamo (Great Dane), and Gypsy (German Shepherd).

“Gypsy is very loyal and loving,” says her owner. “She is an opportunist, too. If you bend down, she will clean your face every single time. She is my protector. Gypsy always alerts me when anyone shows up and gives her Shepherd warning bark when she thinks things aren't kosher. I always tell people that the other three in our house would show a thief where my loot is, but Gypsy would take the thief right down.” Gypsy lives with Penny (Boston Terrier), Alamo (Great Dane), and Dollie (Australian Shepherd).

“All four of my dogs like to go for walks in areas managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and in our neighborhood,” says their owner. “They love to ride in the side-by-side utility vehicle, and even though Mo can't get into it anymore, he still likes to walk alongside. They enjoy pickup rides with the windows rolled down. Moving to Montana City last fall was a big adjustment for my pups but they sure do love it now. They have a beautiful fenced yard and lots of room to play, and of course, they enjoy our walks.”

Juniper

Juniper’s favorite activities are hiking and chasing her ball. Her favorite foods are treats like freeze-dried liver. She might consider being a therapy dog one day, especially because her breed was developed in Australia specifically to perform therapy and assistance tasks. “Juniper is very loving,” says her owner, “and she is always up for exploring new places. She is a dog with no undercoat, but she adores snow and cold weather.”

Barça & Casa

Barça is named after the city of Barcelona and after Spain’s famous soccer team, FC Barcelona. He loves to run and chase ground squirrels, and he has used his talented nose to earn his American Kennel Club Novice Scent Work title. He also has his AKC Fast CAT title (that’s a timed 100-yard dash for dogs; CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test) and has made the top twenty list for the fastest Bernese Mountain Dogs for two years in a row. His favorite thing in the world is to chase his jolly ball and play keep-away with it. Barça lives with Casa (Bernese Mountain Dog).

Casa is named after the city of Casablanca. “She bounces like Tigger, loves to run our small acreage with Barça, and is enthusiastic about trying to catch ground squirrels,” says her owner. Casa is a champion snuggler and velcro dog; the only thing she likes more than cookies is snuggling with her humans. Casa lives with Barça (Bernese Mountain Dog).

Bea

“Bea is a three-year-old furrever puppy that we adopted from the Idaho Saint Bernard Rescue in June of 2022,” says her owner. “She came to us with some severe anxiety developed from being regularly left alone outside at her first home. We’re encouraging her confidence and building trust by slowly introducing her to new things and including her in everything we do. We are so grateful that she is in our lives!” Bea loves people, hiking, and adventures with her owners. She has a curious and goofy personality and will do just about anything for a piece of chicken jerky!

Whiskey Rose

Whiskey Rose’s first year of life is unknown. She was spotted as a young dog hanging out at a rest stop near Wolf Creek in the spring of 2014. It took several months before rescuers could trap her. When they called her or tried to lure her with treats, she just ran the other way. But once at the Lewis and Clark County shelter she quickly wrapped all the young caretakers around her paw. It turned out this little stray Aussie had an unusually gentle, loving way about her that melted hearts.

Whiskey was quick to figure out that dog therapy work is a great job! Then she became a Reading Education Assistance Dog, or R.E.A.D. dog. “Whiskey embraced this advanced job with a special passion,” says her owner. “She has sat on a blanket with hundreds of young readers over the past eight years, encouraging each of them with her patience and gentle interest in their reading.” Children on the autism spectrum have a special place in Whiskey Rose’s heart. She has also helped mentor a whole new generation of therapy dogs through the Helena chapter of the Intermountain Therapy Animals organization. When she isn’t visiting or reading with children, Whiskey enjoys long sniff-walks in town.

Katie

Born in Bayfield, Wisconsin, Katie moved to Montana as a puppy and became an accomplished pheasant hunting dog. She loves chasing squirrels, too, but as a therapy dog she is best known for bringing smiles to residents of Touchmark Assisted Living and Memory Care as well as to patients at Helena’s VA Hospital. “Katie loves people more than she loves other dogs,” says her owner. “She enjoys lying in a sunny spot in the yard and her best friends are her mom and dad, Hunter, Jonathan, Jane and Dan, Nancy and Dori, Chuck, Karin, and Chris, the mailman who bribes her with milk bones. Katie wakes up happy and wanting to play every morning.”

Grace

Grace was born in North Carolina and spent her first three years in Asheville, where she was a registered therapy dog. “We visited the local hospital,” says her owner,” where we were greeters in the lobby and brought immense joy to patients, staff, and families.” During the Covid pandemic, Grace and her owner moved back to Helena, where she joined Intermountain Therapy Animals and the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program. “There are some amazing 3rd graders at the Kessler School who love Grace,” says her owner. “I would describe her as a full participator of life and love. Grace spends a lot of time in the back yard just pondering and watching. We call it her Zen meditation time. Ohm!”

Molly & Bella

In human terms, says her owner, Molly is the “class clown,” always finding ways to make her family laugh. She loves daily hikes, rolling in disgusting trail treasures, pestering her two canine sisters, retrieving “lost” items, and wrestling with her big buddy Barça, a Bernese Mountain Dog. Molly lives with Bella (Golden Retriever) and Grizzy (Golden Retriever), her best friend and wrestling partner.

Bella is a very special rescue; a Golden Retriever who was left at a shelter when she was 11 years old. “She’s our joyful curly haired girl who loves her walks, her wiggles, her canine pals, and everyone she meets,” says her owner. “She sings when she’s happy, and every day she lets us know that she loves her new life! Please consider adopting an older pet!” Bella lives with Molly (Golden Retriever) and her other napping and romping pal, Grizzy (Golden Retriever).

Luke, Boone, & Silas

Luke’s owner originally chose a different pup from his litter of 10, but when it was time for the puppies to go to their new homes, she reconsidered and asked for Luke. The breeder said they had decided not to place him because he was unsocial and timid, but Luke blossomed and became what his owner calls the most amazing dog and the love of her life. He has earned 50 titles from the American Kennel Club, National Association of Canine Scent Work, and North American Sporting Dog Association. Luke has been invited to compete at Nationals at the Master Level in AKC Scent Work, Barn Hunt, NASDA Trailing and Locating, and Rally Master.

Luke’s owner suffered a brain-stem injury in a car accident, so he was initially trained as her service dog. “Life as I knew it changed forever after the accident,” she says. “I was allowed to do Luke’s training myself as I had trained horses most of my life and had given up my equine activities. Luke gave me the will to live again. In fact, together he and I went on to survive and thrive!” Luke lives with Boone (Standard Poodle) and Silas, a 4-month-old Australian Labradoodle puppy.

His owner calls Boone the “most different” dog she has ever worked with. “He is very smart,” she says, “in a Boone sort of way. I will forever be learning new ways to communicate with him. He just ‘thinks’ differently. I sometimes call him my Autistic Dog. Boone works at his own pace in everything he does”.

Boone holds advanced American Kennel Club titles in Rally and was even invited to Nationals. He has Excellent titles in AKC Scent Work and is now competing at the Master Level. He has taken first place in several scent trials of classes of up to 22 dogs because he has been the only dog to find all of the correct hides (hidden scent objects) in the tests. He is diligent, kind, and careful in what he does.

“Boone recently got a new brother,” says his owner. “He plays amazingly with him for hours a day, pulling him around on his blanket, playing tug, and teaching him to go through tunnels. Boone has the softest, most kind heart I have ever seen.” Boone lives with Luke (Labradoodle) and Silas, a 4-month-old Australian Labradoodle puppy.

Silas was born on National Puppy Day in March so he was special from the start. “The day he came to his new home,” says his owner, “he whimpered only once in the car, then got out and jumped right into the family and never looked back. It was like he was destined to be here.” He was an instant therapy dog, helping his owner through a time of transition.

Silas has never missed out on a toy bear or a meal or a good night’s sleep. He learned to sit and down in 2 seconds, says his owner, and he has a nose like nothing she has come across. This means he will probably grow up to be a scent-tracking or nose-work dog. “Silas’s eyes are literally the windows to his soul,” says his owner. “He looks right into my eyes and speaks to my soul. He is always happy, he’s always right underfoot, and he is a beautiful dog who is meant to be in my life.”