The New Hampshire Sled Dog Rescue, History and Education Center (NHSDRHEC) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit entity dedicated to providing a home and job for life to working sled dogs in need. We also strive to provide education to the public about northern breed dogs and preserve New Hampshire’s rich dog sledding history. The NHSDRHEC is funded by adoption fees, sponsorships and donations, seasonal fundraisers and recreational dog sledding experiences conducted by Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel. Together, the NHSDRHEC and Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel are responsible for nearly 80 sled dogs and spend thousands annually just in basic care (this does include staffing, insurance, etc.). Online a traditional “house dog”, working sled dogs do not typically hold up well when in a shelter environment. They tend to develop behavioral problems and are consequently deemed “unadoptable”. We are able to provide them with a traditional working kennel environment (which they are familiar with) and can continue to thrive in. When a sled dog in need comes to us, they have a home and job for life. Should they lose interest in running or for health/age reasons need to retire, we then seek out a wonderful forever home for them to enjoy. In the past year, we have successfully placed 7 retired sled dogs into forever homes and are striving to grow that number even more in the coming year.
Step 1 – Complete and submit an adoption application. A completed application helps our staff get to know you better and introduce you to dogs that would do well in your home (or ensure that the dog you are interested in would be a good fit). Once we receive this information, we can then schedule an appointment for you to come meet our adoptable sled dogs. Step 2 – If you decide to move forward with adopting one of our sled dogs we begin processing your application (i.e.: checking references that you provide, reaching out to your vet etc.) We also request a few nonintrusive home photos to get an idea of where the our dog will play, sleep, eat etc. Step 3 – If your application is approved we then schedule a health certificate appointment (and spay/neuter surgery if necessary). Step 4 – You get to welcome your new four-legged friend to their new home! Please note that in general the adoption process takes 2-4 weeks depending on how quickly we receive feedback from your references and how soon we can get the lucky four-legged in for any necessary vet appointments.