A dog named Alabama
Hello friends! Today is Giving Tuesday, which is a global movement to donate, volunteer, and support people & causes in your community. It felt like the perfect time to share the story behind one of my favorite local nonprofits, Freedom Bound Hounds. Enjoy!
In partnership with the TRICA Snow Globe
Next month, TRICA invites you to a multi-sensory immersive holiday light experience, TRICA Snow Globe.
This inaugural winter event transforms the centuries-old cathedral into a magical experience for all ages and abilities. Featuring state-of-the-art lighting technologies coupled with bespoke, large-scale art installations, TRICA Snow Globe offers a glimpse of what it would be like to be shrunk down and step inside a real-life snow globe. This event will be the first of its kind, and it will continue for years to come, with each year featuring a new theme.
Every ticket includes access to the Confetti Snow Room & the Hot Cocoa Bar presented by Unbottled and Hyde Perk. East Forest provides the curated soundtrack guiding attendees through each session. Adult beverages available for purchase from Lost Grove, Meriwether Cider, and Woodland Empire.
Here's how to visit TRICA Snow Globe:
- Location: TRICA 1406 W Eastman St. Boise, ID 83702
- Dates: December 1, 2, 3, and December 8, 9, 10
- Ticketed Time Entry: 5pm - 10pm
- Purchase tickets at www.boisesnowglobe.com
- Adults $20, Students and Children $15, Under 2 Free
A dog named Alabama
The story of Freedom Bound Hounds is more like a book. It’s a story made up of many stories – 869 stories to be exact. And it all begins with a dog named Alabama.
Saving Alabama
In the summer of 2019, Jenny Carlisle and Katie Dace were part of a Facebook group that posted high risk dogs and dogs that were facing euthanasia.
One post in particular caught their attention – Alabama.
Alabama was a gorgeous grey and white girl with a dark grey nose, floppy ears, and big light green eyes. It was clear from the photos that Alabama had been neglected her entire life. She was sick, starving, and suffering in a shelter in Texas and she only had two days until she was set to be euthanized.
Katie immediately called Jenny and the two mobilized to save Alabama. At the time they were not rescuers, so they went into full DIY mode. Katie’s husband flew down to Texas to get Alabama and rented a car to drive her back to Boise. Meanwhile Katie, Jenny, and Jenny’s mom worked with a local rescue to back them so they could accept donations to care for Alabama once she arrived.
When Alabama made it to Boise, Jenny took her home to fix her up and hopefully find her a forever home. But Alabama was in bad shape. She could hardly walk due to being overbred and living in a crate for most of her life, and a vet visit confirmed she was terminally ill with lymphoma.
“She had been through so much torture in her little life, but she just had this beautiful, gentle personality and was just so undeniably sweet,” remembered Jenny.
Sadly, three weeks after Alabama was rescued she passed away. But in those last three weeks of Alabama’s life, she was in a safe, warm, cozy home surrounded by people who loved her dearly.
The first 32
After Alabama died, Katie and Jenny couldn’t stop thinking about her and the entire experience. They decided to honor Alabama by making another trip to the shelter she came from in South Texas. They flew down, rented a van, loaded it up with 32 dogs and drove back to Boise.
“It was crazy,” laughed Jenny. “We had no idea what we were doing at the time – it's kind of funny to look back on now. But then we got back to Boise and we still have all the support of everybody who worked with Alabama, and we just kind of made things work.”
They placed all 32 dogs with foster families immediately, then got them into forever homes within a few weeks. Katie and Jenny were hooked and thus, Freedom Bound Hounds was born.
Why Texas?
Freedom Bound Hounds is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that runs entirely with the help of volunteers and fosters. They focus on saving dogs from South Texas around the Rio Grande Valley. This area has a severe overpopulation crisis and has one of the highest rates of euthanasia in the nation, so much so that even other Boise-area shelters are taking dogs from this specific area. In the past few years, they have also helped rescue dogs in need on the Navajo Reservation and taken in a dog from a neighboring Idaho shelter, but most of their work takes places in South Texas. Freedom Bound Hounds works with a network of Texas volunteers and animal-lovers to locate dogs in high-kill shelters and on the streets in this area.
“It’s something that people here just can't wrap their minds around. It's so horrible,” said Jenny. “Dogs just run sick and strays on the street and it's just accepted as part of the community. It's absolutely crazy.”
This area of Texas has very minimal resources for stray animals, so almost all of the shelters in South Texas are high-kill, meaning they put dogs down within three days of receiving them. And it’s not just like sick or old dogs – puppies, pure bred breeds, dogs that would be placed almost instantly in Boise just get euthanized without second thought.
“We are so blessed here in Boise because there's so many good options,” said Jenny. “We have so many vets, we have so much education, and we have just great resources all around. Whereas in Texas, they don't spay or neuter before they leave the shelter. They don't even have that option. So it's like a vicious vicious cycle – if the dog even gets to leave the shelter.”
Sponsored by Ballet Idaho
Once again, Ballet Idaho will bring its colorful confectionary holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, to the Treasure Valley.
With enchanting choreography by Peter Anastos, magical and opulent sets by Christopher McCollum, and shimmering, breathtaking costumes by Margaret Mitchell, The Nutcracker production has been a local favorite for years.
Ballet Idaho will continue its cherished collaboration with the Boise Philharmonic to bring the lush sounds of Tchaikovsky’s score to life at the Morrison Center. As one of Ballet Idaho’s biggest shows, the production casts approximately 90 children from Ballet Idaho Academy, and utilizes every Ballet Idaho company member and Ballet Idaho Trainee. From the moment the curtain opens at the vivid home of the Stahlbaums, through the snowy, winter woods under a full moon, to the color saturated and glittery Land of Sweets, Ballet Idaho’s version of this timeless classic is not to be missed.
Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker is a dreamy, gorgeous ballet, one whose warmth and magic will stay with you throughout the holidays. Whether it is your first time or a beloved family tradition, don’t miss your chance to see this stunning show and share it with your loved ones this December!
Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker will run December 15-24. Don't wait - get your tickets here!
Left photo features soloist Ashley Baker; Photos by Otto Kitsinger
A little help from lots of friends
Freedom Bound Hounds relies entirely on volunteers and fosters. Once a dog is located, they work with volunteers in Texas to adopt the dogs and take them straight to a vet to be checked up, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. As soon as a dog is located, Jenny and Katie are already at work finding the dog a foster and potential forever home in Boise.
Once a dog is healthy enough to travel, another volunteer drives 10-20 dogs up to Boise. A team of volunteers and fosters meet the transport van somewhere in Boise, usually a parking lot. Fosters have been matched with a dog before they arrive, so the foster takes one or two dogs home to be loved on and socialized. If the foster doesn’t end up falling in love and keeping them (it happens often), they find the dog a forever home within a few weeks.
In 2020, the first year as an official nonprofit, Freedom Bound Hounds placed 160 dogs with their forever homes. In 2021, they placed 200 dogs. In 2022, they placed 208. So far in 2023, they have placed 201 dogs, and they are headed back to Texas this week.
“Many of the dogs that we took in this year barely got out alive,” said Jenny. “It has been a very emotional and fulfilling year.”
A home for the holidays
There are two very good boys, Tate and Bubba, who have been with Freedom Bound Hounds since May. Jenny said they are determined to place Tate and Bubba before the end of the year.
Perhaps you are looking for a very good boy to come live with you?!
Meet Tate
Tate is hands down one of the BEST dogs. He's a beautiful 4 year old Labrador Retriever, neutered, microchipped, and current on vaccines.
Tate has the best attitude, loves all dogs, and is super respectful, even around little old blind dogs. He has medium energy and is content just being with his person, but Tate would also love a life where he can go for walks, hikes, and go camping. He is a super friendly and calm boy - he's become a staff favorite. What a handsome young man! Adopt Tate!
Meet Bubba
Bubba is an adult American Staffordshire Terrier. He was saved from an overcrowded shelter when his time was running out. He moved to foster care where he learned about his love for water and pools! Bubba knows no stranger, he’s SUPER friendly and absolutely loves people, especially kids.
Bubba did fine with the other dog he was fostered with, he has a little girlfriend dog that he loves, and some dogs he doesn’t necessarily want to hang out with. He is neutered, current on vaccines, and microchipped. Bubba’s rescue is based in Boise, but he is available for direct adoption throughout the PNW with transport included at no extra charge. Adopt Bubba!
Support Freedom Bound Hounds
Freedom Bound Hounds is always in need of support through donations, fosters, and people looking to give a dog another chance at life. As far as donations, they always need supplies like collars and leashes, toys, dog beds, and of course, cash.
Fostering a dog with Freedom Bound Hounds is a great way to do a little test run of being a dog parent. Fosters usually have a dog for about 2-3 weeks before it's adopted.
If you're interested in fostering, volunteering, or adopting, visit freedomboundhounds.com to get started. You can also visit their website to see a list of current needs and send donations straight to Freedom Bound Hounds via venmo (@freedomboundhounds) or their Amazon wishlist. You can also follow Freedom Bound Hounds on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok. Sharing their videos and posts is a great way ti support their work!
While it all started with Alabama, in so many ways Freedom Bound Hounds is just getting started.
Thanks for reading!
With love from Boise,
Marissa
PS - Need a quick & easy gift? Get a From Boise sweatshirt!
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From Boise
Every Tuesday, read a story about a person, place, piece of Boise history, or local happening. Every Thursday, get a huge list of things to do over the weekend. No news, no politics - just the fun stuff.