Ten years ago, I met Alli, a beautiful nine-year old Australian cattle dog in a wetland in British Columbia while I was making a documentary on the efforts to conserve the endangered Oregon Spotted Frog. That day, Alli had been called in to help biologists detect the elusive frog. Dogs are nimble and fast, cover large areas in a short period of time, and their powerful noses can catch the scent of a species very quickly. I was amazed by Alli’s confidence and agility in the field, and how efficient she was. I discovered that all over the world, dogs are increasingly being used to assist in wildlife conservation.
Alli used to be a drug-detection dog before embarking on a career in conversation, and she has made a huge difference for so many wildlife species at risk, like the Pacific Pocket mouse and the Oregon silverspot butterfly. Alli inspired me to write my book, Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment.
I had hoped to visit Alli this year and her bounder Heath Smith, Rogue Detection Teams co-founder, but sadly she passed away just before her 18th birthday in April, a couple of weeks before my planned visit. I was heartbroken.
I had recently interviewed Rogue Detection Teams’ co-founder Jennifer Hartman about her relationship with Alli for a magazine story and she shared this: Alli was “very bossy and would wake me up before dawn. She was so excited to get out there. I am very grateful for the fact that she could teach me as many lessons as she did.” Rogue Detection Teams also described Alli as “a fighter, so stubborn, so strong, the matriarch of our pack, our fearless leader.”
Alli is no longer with us but she remains in our hearts forever, and I am very grateful that I was able to photograph and write about her.
Her legacy lives on, and I have been wanting to honour her memory in a special way. That is why I hope you can join me in considering a donation to Alli’s Fund for Retiring Conservation Canines, Rogue Detection Teams’ newly created Fund to support the needs of conservation canines that retire from the field.
Conservation canines enjoy long and happy working lives, and when they retire, they spend their golden years with the human partners that worked alongside them as a team. “When we adopt dogs into our pack, we adopt them for life,” Heath says.
Many of the dogs require special medicines, veterinary care or diets the older they get. For example, Alli was diagnosed with liver and kidney disease when she was 14 years old. She was only given a few months to live. Heath researched different diets to help curb the effects of this debilitating disease, and Alli remained active, alert, and happy for four more years after her diagnosis. Alli taught Heath and Jennifer that with the right amount of love, dedication, and grit, they could support her into her older age.
When I recently visited Rogue Detection Teams Headquarters in Washington, I had a chance to meet another retired conservation canine: Chester was adopted from the Humane Society of Seattle and has contributed to many wildlife conservation projects. One of his favourite missions was in Alberta, searching for wolves and caribou because, as Heath said, “it was in deep winter and he has a very fluffy coat so he he finally got a chance to be in his element.”
Rogue Detection Teams tried to retire him when he was nine, but Chester said “no way” and worked until he was around 15. Now, he loves sleeping by the wood stove and wandering around the woods, carrying a ball.
Chester will be 19 in November, and while he still has a huge love for life, he needs constant care and attention. In his older age, he can pass out if he gets too excited from meeting new people or playing with his favourite toy. So Jennifer and Heath have to be very careful in managing what Chester loves the most (people and fetch), ensuring he safely gets to enjoy it all in small doses.
When I met Chester, I saw how much he loved people, and it was such a joy to be around him. “He is incredibly loyal, hard-working, and just makes you feel like the most special person in the world,” Heath says.
Chester touched my heart, and I know Heath and Jennifer have put all their love and care into making his life as comfortable as possible. They truly have made a lifetime commitment to their canine partners.
As more conservation canines are retiring. Alli’s Fund will provide assistance to these amazing dogs in their golden years, in gratitude for everything they gave to wildlife conservation in their careers, helping locate important data on so many rare or endangered species.
Part of the proceeds of the books sold during my upcoming virtual event on Conservation Canines hosted by Honest Dog Books on Monday April 25 and the in-person talk and book signing at Vashon Arts Centre on June 8 will be donated to Alli’s Fund for Retiring Canines.
To make a contribution to the Alli’s Fund for Retiring Canines, please contact Rogue Detection Teams.
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