About

Mission

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

Our mission is to advocate for coonhounds and foxhounds as family companions through education, community engagement, and monetary grants that fund veterinary care for sheltered and/or abandoned dogs in need of rescue or adoption.

We also sponsor a small number of hounds in independent foster homes and facilitate their transfer into a reputable rescue.

Our Story

Coonhound and Foxhound Companions was formed  in 2010 when a group of on-line chat members began discussing the number of hounds being euthanized in shelters across the U.S. and Canada. Not well-known outside of hunting circles and rural areas, these dogs were often overlooked at shelters with would-be adopters being directed towards more popular breeds.

Seeking a novel approach to increase awareness of these dogs as adoptable family pets, we created a series of free educational posters in 2011 that have since been distributed to hundreds of shelters, municipal pounds, and rescue organizations.

That same year, we also launched our first website and blog, our main Coonhound Companions Facebook page, and the Coonhound Rescue Network - the latter of which is focused exclusively on the networking of coonhounds, foxhounds, and hound-mixes in shelters or other temporary conditions. 

In 2012, we raised $365 for Jethro - an older hound who was pulled from a Kentucky shelter and fostered by a kind individual while being treated for an infection and dental issues. Once healthy, Jethro was adopted into a wonderful loving family and became the inspiration for our Long Ears Alive! (LEA) Fund,  which provides medical grants (via direct to vet payment) to rescue groups that pull sick/injured hounds. 

Over a decade later, our fundraising and outreach activities have enabled us to fund veterinary treatment exceeding $72,500 for over 500 dogs and garnered media attention in publications that include: Bark, Dog Fancy, Modern Dog, and Pet Views & News. 

* As of Jan 2024. Please visit our Long Ears Alive page for details and our latest Impact Report.

Our Team

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

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

    In addition to CFC, Jerry serves as a Board member of the Alamo Great Dane Club, the Heart of Texas Great Dane Club, and 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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  • Mary Ann shares,
    “Several years ago I accidentally adopted a coonhound; then I got another one on purpose.”

    Her involvement with CFC began through hound walks organized by a CFC founder and she has been a board member since 2016. In addition to being the art director/design guru behind our annual calendar, Mary Ann fosters and transports for a Cattle Dog rescue.

    Mary Ann resides in Round Mountain, Texas, with her husband, and Coonies Hattie and Cora who sweetly provide exercise, entertainment, and companionship

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  • Kathy became involved in the coonhound community in 2018 via the folks at Southern Arizona Beagle Rescue who hold hound hiking meetups in Tuscon, Arizona.

    Soon thereafter, she began volunteering with CFC in support of the annual Howl-iday Auction, and later, started managing the CFC Instagram account. Kathy joined the Board in 2022, and has since become involved in developing fundraising partnerships, increasing social media engagement, and the redesign of the CFC website in 2024.

    Kathy now resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with Sky - an American English/Treeing Walker Coonhound mix.

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  • 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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  • Another original member of the Yahoo “Coonhound Fanciers” chat group, Jean is also the founder of Gentle Jake’s Coonhound Rescue where she oversees operations for one of the most active coonhound and foxhound rescues in North America.

    Jean’s 20+ years of hands-on rescue experience has been instrumental in guiding CFC strategic direction and helping us grow our Project Hounds program.

    Jean resides in North Bay, Ontario, with her husband and coonhound Annabelle.

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