Fostering & Adoption

Zoey came to us as a stray following Hurricane Harvey. During her time with us, she helped detect large carnivore scat for genetic analysis and even invasive plants. Zoey is smart, sensitive and absolutely adores people (and a cozy couch). She’s also a bit “dog-selective,” so when it was time for her to retire, we knew she would do best as the only dog in a home that could give her the extra space, comfort, and attention she loves most.

Zoey is now happily retired as the only dog in her new family, receiving undivided attention, including her own heated blanket on the couch to contentedly supervise holiday decorating. Her new family isn’t a goodbye for us - it’s simply an addition to our extended WD4C family! Just one more way we honor the promise we make to every dog in our pack.

While his nose was sharp, Frost’s sensitivity to other dogs and cautiousness around new people made fieldwork more stressful than joyful for him. So, with his well-being in mind, we retired Frost - and set out to find the right match that could continue to support his unique needs.

Frost now lives on a ranch with Erica and her family on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Erica monitors soil samples for heavy metals that could affect tribal bison herds, and Frost keeps her company, always on the lookout for bison and the odd invasive plant. Some dogs just can’t help but keep working!

We’re so proud of all Frost has done and even more excited for what lies ahead for him: wide open spaces, plenty of toys, and a kid who thinks he’s the coolest dog on Earth.

Jack has been successfully adopted!

An intense and hyper-focused black lab, Jack started as a conservation dog at WD4C after coming to us from a shelter in Utah. We soon noticed that our intended path for him was not the best fit for his personality and temperament, but we knew this high-drive dog needed another job.

We're thrilled to have found a great match for him where he still gets to use his nose and thrive in a home setting. He has bonded with his person deeply, and he's earned the nickname "Shadow" for always wanting to be close to his family around the home. Jack and his handler/owner Cassandra now train to be a human remains search and rescue canine!

Jax is a Belgian Malinois that loves his toys, and most importantly, loves to be a goofball. He came to WD4C as a career-change dog and worked on a few conservation projects.

Despite that success, he showed us that living an active pet life was his true calling. We were thrilled to find Jax a great home, and now he even has a Malinois sibling. His new owner reports that Jax has changed his life, sharing that "this guy is an absolute blessing”. Awwww - we're pretty sure Jax feels the same way!

This beast-mode chocolate lab was found close to Missoula through Home-to-Home, a rehoming platform for dogs who need placement, and he immediately caught our eye for his zesty toy drive and boundless energy. While ultimately he wasn’t destined to be a conservation canine, he’s still living the good life!

Bulky and abundantly playful Tonka - who has learned some impressive self-control along the way - now has a family of his own as well. They report he has become an absolute gentleman in the house and he enjoys walking "his" youngest family member to the school bus each day. We’re so excited for this excellent match!

Toshi was a career-change dog who came to WD4C as conservation dog prospect. While that was just the beginning of his training journey, ultimately, not every dog pans out to be a perfect fit for the unique demands of conservation fieldwork. But that is okay!

Toshi, who absolutely adores children, now has some wonderful kids to call his very own - and they are the best of friends already. Toshi is a bit reserved and shy in new places, but has blossomed in his new home, with his family embracing his sensitive nature and cheering him on. We’re thrilled for this great match and are always excited for updates from them!