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new?
THANK YOU DONORS, A POEM FOR 2025
A fleet of dogs
Is a family in itself! We are layers, 7 deep.
Mona, Sadie, Stella, Pika, Gretchen, Misty, and SWE!
This season, Mona is the grand dame,
Whiskers white amongst her black coat.
Snow comes
Dogs relish powder, runs, face shots, noses plunging...
Exhilaration,
Joy!
Validations wrapped for each,
Camouflaged to test and train.
Stockings fill, season reveals,
Hope stacking, gratitude rising
Falling as snow.
Grateful, we remember those whose paws came before
and left great holes to fill.
Work to do
Digging legends to live up to.
Media and magazine next door combine to put a sparkle
in the shine and a star on top.
Your contributions and correspondence lift us,
Elevating dogs in the ruff.
Thank you,
LIGHTS
Winter 2025...
A 6-PACK OF FRESH VALIDATIONS!
Big news from the Telluride Avalanche Dogs—all teams have recently passed their validations as avalanche rescue dogs!
After months and years of training, Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD), came out to Telluride for the field exams. Each hardworking unit put their skills to the test, and we are thrilled to announce that every team earned their field-ready certification—meaning every single one of our teams is now validated and prepared to respond to real avalanche rescues.
John Reller, Andrea Reller, and their certified avalanche dog, Arva, made the trip to Telluride to oversee the process, ensuring our teams met the rigorous C-RAD standards. Under the leadership of TAD's director, Gary Richard, six teams successfully passed their validations:
✅ Renewed Validations:
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Andy & Sadie
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Michael & Stella
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Sam & Gretchen
✅ First-Time Validations:
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Kim & SWE
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Jim & Misty
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Karl & Pika
And of course, our legendary veteran team Erik & Mona remain active and certified—no new validation needed.
This milestone marks a huge achievement for our team, and we’re incredibly proud of both our dogs and their handlers for their dedication, training, and passion for mountain safety. Here’s to another season of keeping the resort safe so we can all partake in this glorious sport we love!
THE GIRL SCOUTS MEET THE AVI DOGS!
On Super Bowl Sunday, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting a group of local Girl Scouts for a morning of hands-on learning, puppy play, and avalanche rescue fun! Six scouts—Georgia, Edie, Quinn, Willa, Azari, and Helena—joined us on the mountain, eager to meet our avalanche dogs and experience firsthand how these incredible pups train for life-saving work.
The girls took turns hiding in snow holes, giving our dogs a chance to practice their search-and-rescue skills. SWE and Pika, our youngest recruits, stole the show with their boundless energy and enthusiasm, showing off their developing skills while keeping everyone entertained.
It was a morning filled with laughter, learning, and lots of tail wags! We love sharing our passion for mountain safety with the community—especially with the next generation of outdoor adventurers.
Support the Girl Scouts (and treat yourself) by grabbing some cookies! 🍪
Newsletter: November 2023
Welcome to a glimpse into the Telluride Avalanche Dogs!
We are excitedly anticipating the upcoming winter season.
Noteworthy is the loss of Wiley, who ended his career but not his legacy.
Lady Bee has officially RETIRED from service after 13 seasons. She will be spending the first winter of her life at home as opposed to work. Upcoming she will host a hot dog weenie roast at PHQ. Stay tuned!
Last winter we had multiple in area avalanches, of which GRETCHEN and STELLA worked, clearing the sites and determining the status of no victim(s) caught.
Multiple injuries plagued multiple dogs last season and we are grateful for their care, the funds received by donors, and ultimately for their current health.
Our website, has recently been revamped by our talented Madeleine Kunda, so please visit often and enjoy its many offerings, including THE SHOP, THE GALLERY, DONATIONS and more.
Two new puppies enter the fleet this season. MISTY and SWE are two adorable pups, available for viewing in person on the mountain or on the website!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. We could not do what we do without YOU.