www.DessinShelter.com

Yee Haw!

We are here in Harpers Ferry, WV and have just hit the big 1,000. This town is mostly a National Historic Park and is quite fun but also expensive to stay in. It is also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters. We have certainly taken the time to sit back and reflect on our accomplishments, over a pint of course. 1,000 miles is a long way and the 1,175 we have left is even longer. One of our most simple realizations is that walking can truly be a mode of transportation, you just can't be in a hurry to get anywhere. It is exciting to experience the space in between destinations (even if it is tree after tree) as apposed to jumping in a car and cranking on the radio. I find it refreshing to notice the music of the birds and the quiet stillness after the sun disappears over the horizon. To actually make it to Maine would be quite a thrill.

Now that we have reached this once far off goal, we have been thinking quite a lot about why we are out here. Both of us feel more determined than ever to make it to Maine (I mean, we made it this far we might as well go all the way). Many hikers ask about Roxi and I eagerly spurt out her story. For her, being a trail dog is exactly what the doctor ordered. She is high energy and high drive: being a house dog is not what she had in mind. Many other dogs have not made it this far because hiking with a pack on is not the "job" that Roxi thinks it is. To think that our faithful Roxi was once in a kennel at Dessin almost jumping out of her skin for something to do. And now she is a trail dog, completely at home and content with life (still brimming with energy and very focused on anything she deems worth focusing on). This is why I am doing the AT. To get the message out about homeless pets and how wonderful they can be. Many are somehow surprised when I tell them Roxi is a shelter dog. I'm not sure if it is because she is a purebred or because she is rather well trained (compared to a few dogs on the trail that give trail dogs a bad rap). Roxi is doing this trail to raise money for the shelter that found her a new forever home. The Dessin Animal Shelter in Honesdale PA, is, simply put, a special place with a good heart. A small private shelter, it is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers. That's it folks.

I (Pooch/Laura T) have been working with Dessin for nearly nine years and there is a reason I keep going back. I love what Dessin does for the homeless animals in our community. I have set a $20,000 goal for this fundraiser. I am aware that it is rather ambitious, but if that goal is reached, this will be the biggest fundraiser ever for Dessin. EVER! In fact, it will be bigger than all the fundraisers put together in one year. We are on this journey as our way of helping a place that we care about. If Dessin did not exist.... well, lets just not think about that right now. Please, there is no better way to show your support of our mission than to make a pledge: every penny counts.

www.DessinShelter.com

Happy Trails (and Tails =-)
Roxi, Pooch & Tom Dooley