Mission and Vision


Coonhound and Foxhound Companions is a Wisconsin-based, 501(c)3 non-profit canine advocacy organization that operates throughout the U.S.  We are funded solely by donations and fundraisers. We operate with a 100% volunteer staff.

We advocate for the rescue, adoption and responsible guardianship of coonhounds, foxhounds and hound mixes as beloved indoor family companions. We envision a world where all companion animals are treated humanely, free of abuse, neglect, and suffering.

Our Story

Have you heard about the plight of the coonhound?

Widely viewed by hunters as “equipment,” coonhounds and foxhounds are not well-known outside hunting circles. Highly regarded for their talent in tracking and treeing, too many are neglected, abused, and abandoned after the hunting season ends. The stray or surrendered hounds that do end up in shelters and pounds are often overlooked by potential adopters for more popular, well-known breeds.

This troubling scenario prompted the formation of Coonhound and Foxhound Companions in September 2010, when a group of online hound lovers began discussing the number of hounds being euthanized in shelters across the U.S. and Canada. Seeking a novel approach to increase awareness of these dogs as desirable family companions, we created a series of free educational posters in 2011 that have since been distributed to hundreds of shelters, pounds, and rescue organizations.

That same year, we also launched our website, the Coonhound Companions Facebook page, and the Coonhound Rescue Network page on Facebook, now with over 16,000 members. 

We founded our Long Ears Alive! (LEA) Fund and our Project Hound programs in 2012.

Well over a decade later, our fundraising and outreach activities have enabled us to fund veterinary treatment exceeding $80,000 for nearly 600 dogs and earned media attention in Bark, Dog Fancy, and Modern Dog magazines. These efforts have helped. Coonhounds and foxhounds are becoming more popular across our continent!

* As of March 2025.

Our Team

Meet the drivers, doers, and hound lovers that make Coonhound and Foxhound Companions run every single day.

Two people at a table representing Peace Love Dogs, with shirts and a tshirt hanging behind them that have the Peace Love Dogs logo. The table has flyers, drinks, and various items, with a colorful graffiti wall in the background.
Contact Us

  • Charlotte’s coonhound journey began 32 years ago when an old, stray Bluetick showed up in her backyard howling at 2 am. Starving and in rough shape, the local vet helped Flash “get straightened out” and he became an enjoyable companion for many years; subsequently, setting the stage for all her future adoptions to be “only hounds.”

    With a desire to help more hounds, Charlotte was integral in transitioning the Howli-day Auction fundraiser to an online platform (in 2018) and continues to manage this annual event. She joined the CFC Board in 2022 (serving as treasurer) and also researches and posts the “Adoptable Hound of the Week”.

    Charlotte and her husband reside in Waldo, Ohio, along with Dixie, a Treeing Walker Coonhound (pictured) and a Bluetick named Joe.

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  • Active in dog rescue for over two decades, Jerry founded Tejas Coonhound Rescue, a networking group for scenthound rescue in Texas. He has also trained Great Danes and scenthounds for AKC Obedience and APDT Rally-O competition. Two of his rescued Great Danes were nationally ranked in obedience trials.

    In addition to CFC, Jerry is a former Board member for Etosha Rescue and Adoption Center.

    Jerry and his coonhound Otis live in Southern Williamson County, Texas.

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  • Alicia’s love of animals and commitment to volunteerism spans decades. She can often be found volunteering at local soup kitchens and organizing food drives. It is working alongside her 6th therapy dog, Dave, where many say she shines while bringing joy to so many in need within her community.

    From an early age, Alicia demonstrated a natural ability to connect with animals of all kinds, including dogs, cats, horses, goats, peacocks, ducks, and more. As an adult, she has continued to take animal welfare and education seriously, earning multiple certifications through various professional organizations. In addition to volunteering at shelters, Alicia finds her greatest fulfillment in helping animal guardians navigate life with dogs who are shy, fearful, or considered “broken,” helping both ends of the leash find confidence and connection.

    Alicia has been invited to guest lecture at universities, medical schools, and hospital systems, speaking on topics that bridge animal behavior, ethics, and human wellbeing. She has also developed a learning module for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), for those pursuing further education and certification in dog training.

    After adopting their first hound, Mae Belle, Alicia and her husband knew their lives had been changed forever. Their love for these loud, goofy, and highly intelligent dogs quickly grew deeper than they ever imagined. Alicia is passionate about highlighting the true capabilities of hounds and showing the world that they are so much more than “a nose on the ground.”

    Alicia and her husband reside near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with their dogs: Lola and Dillon (Mini Dachshunds), Liberty Belle (Treeing Walker Coonhound), and Dave (Foxhound mix).

    Alicia Harantschuk, ​CPDT-KA​, IAABC-CDBC & ADT, CTDI, CCFC​, Fear Free Certified

    Lifestyle Pet Trainer

    Bright & Beautiful Evaluator / Volunteer

    AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

  • One of the original members of the Yahoo “Coonhound Fanciers” chat group, Anna’s love for hounds began with the adoption of Austin - a Treeing Walker Coonhound - from a local shelter where she volunteered.

    Simply stated, Anna is the backbone of the organization - ensuring CFC remains true to its mission while adapting to a constantly changing animal welfare landscape. In addition to serving as CFC Board Secretary, Anna manages the Project Hound program, the CFC Facebook page, and the Life with My Rescued Foxhound group.

    Anna and her husband reside in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with Belle (pictured; an American English Coonhound), another hound, Batman, and a Boxer mix, Maddie.

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  • Jill met fellow board member and CFC co-founder Anna Nirva in 2008 while adopting her first coonhound, Wanda, from the Vernon County Humane Society in Wisconsin. Anna was a volunteer at the shelter and an advocate for allergy prone, Wanda.

    Jill has been serving as the Long Ears Alive (LEA) Coordinator since its inception in 2012, and began her tenure as a Board member in 2016. In addition to her LEA responsibilities, JIll manages the Coonhound Rescue Network page, and handles the mailing of the CFC annual calendar.

    Jill and her husband reside in Wyoming, Wisconsin, with their hound-mix, Lori.

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