Long Ears Alive!
The Coonhound Companions “Long Ears Alive!” (LEA) Fund is a unique program dedicated to funding veterinary care for homeless coonhounds, foxhounds and hound-mixes with treatable medical conditions in order to improve their odds of rescue and/or adoption.
Initiated in 2012, LEA has helped hundreds of sick, injured, and senior hounds with common medical conditions (e.g. heart worm, emaciation, mange, skin tumors and cherry eye), in addition to more serious injuries such as broken legs and shotgun wounds.
In 2023, we began funding pregnant/lactating hounds to assist with the costs of maternal injuries/illness, nutritional support and immunizations for puppies.
The Long Ears Alive! Process
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Step 1
Our LEA team seeks out hounds located in shelters and municipal pounds across the country via the Coonhound Rescue Network and other social media posts. Occasionally, we get referrals from individuals who have discovered an abandoned and/or stray hound. .
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Step 2
After verifying the dog’s status and location, we make a pledge ranging from $75 to $400. Our hope is that this pledge will incentivize a rescue to "pull" the dog by offsetting the cost of veterinary care for a treatable medical condition.
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Step 3
Once a dog has been pulled, we then coordinate with the rescue and their designated veterinarian to ensure direct payment. Should a dog's condition change and require additional funds, we often increase our initial pledge amount.
As an adjunct to LEA, we sponsor a select number of Project Hounds (PH) each year (10 or less) for whom we’ve secured a hound-savvy foster. While some of these dogs do receive LEA funds, the majority of their care (pull fees, food, vetting, etc.) is covered by individual fundraisers and the generosity of fellow hound advocates. Once their health has improved, we then coordinate placement with a rescue partner, as we are not a licensed adoption organization.
Project Hounds
Success Stories
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Buckley
A Project Hound from south Kentucky, Buckley was found as a starved and mangy stray with diseases and parasites. A kind and generous foster mom cared for him as he endured vetting appointments and surgeries totaling nearly $1,000.
Gentle Jake's Coonhound Rescue accepted Buckley and found him a loving family in Ontario, Canada.
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Ruby
Sweet Ruby landed at Southampton County Animal Control and Public Shelter (Virginia) with 5 puppies, heart worm, and cherry eye.
Our LEA fund paid $100 towards her heart worm treatment and the entire family was rescued by Isle of Wight County Humane Society in Smithfield, Virginia.
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Elvis
Suffering from malnutrition, skin issues and an old leg injury, big boy Elvis quickly caught our attention at Lee County Animal Shelter in South Carolina.
Our LEA fund paid $200 towards Elvis’ veterinary care and he was rescued by the folks at Helping Hearts Healing Tails Animal Rescue in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania.
