other resorts with avalanche dog programs, Abbey and Parsons are a team for life. “She and I are in it for the long haul and if I were to leave Schweitzer, Abbey would travel with me wherever I headed,” he said. “Schweitzer has been really positive about the program and I see us continuing to grow and develop here with this team.” As any dog owner knows, taking care of our fourlegged friends isn’t cheap – especially if your pup is a working dog. Fortunately, both Thompson and Parsons have some fantastic partners who support them and the program. “North Idaho Animal Hospital in Sandpoint has been amazing in helping us keep the girls healthy,” Thompson said. “They’ve also trained us in some basic canine first aid so that if anything were to happen to them, we can provide immediate care like we do for our humans on the mountain.” “I’m especially grateful for Dr. Tim Hunt,” Parsons adds. “He’s a former musher who created his own line of dog food. We reached out to him in the beginning and he’s been beyond supportive of our program.” It’s easy to get excited about Schweitzer’s avalanche dogs. Yes, the adorable puppy faces help, but the importance of their work and presence on the mountain can’t be overlooked. They are working dogs who are trained to help find you in the event of an avalanche. Schweitzer is grateful to have these working dogs as part of the family so when you see them on the mountain, feel free to enjoy a few moments learning about them, their handlers, and the program.
Top: Annie and Abbey, with Jeff and Steve, head up the lift on an exceptionally snowy day in January 2018. Left: Spring 2017 was Abbey’s first season on the mountain. Here she learned the importance of meeting her audience face to face. Below left: Annie has a plethora of skills and would love to add snowmobile driver to her resume. Bottom: Top dog is hard to determine some days. Regardless, play time is key for both Abbey and Annie.
2018 • 2019
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