Coonhound and Foxhound Companions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dog advocacy organization based in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Our organization began in 2010 when a group of on-line chat members began discussing the number of Coonhounds, Foxhounds, and hound-mixes being euthanized in shelters across the U.S. and Canada. Not well-known outside of hunting circles and rural areas, these dogs are often overlooked at shelters as would-be adopters are directed towards more popular breeds. This situation is further compounded by lost/abandoned hounds that are "found" at the end of hunting season and often "short-listed" due to lack of funds/resources for highly-treatable medical conditions (e.g. heart worm, minor injuries, malnourishment, etc.).
Seeking a novel approach to this state of affairs, we created the Long Ears Campaign - a series of educational posters that portray Coonhounds and Foxhounds as adoptable family pets. Available as free downloads or laminated (upon request), the goal of this (ongoing) campaign is to increase awareness of these breeds where adoptions are actually taking place. We also established this website and started the Long Ears Blog as an informational resource for new/existing owners, temporary custodians, and other stakeholders.
In 2016 we obtained our official non-profit status, and have since expanded our focus to include: - Networking dogs in need of rescue. - Funding veterinary care for sick/injured/pregnant/lactating hounds located in shelters and other temporary environments. - Managing an online, community-based resource center.