06/23/2026
🎥🐾 HARLEY'S TV DEBUT... AND MAYBE SOMETHING EVEN BETTER! 🐾🎥
Today was supposed to be Harley's television debut.
Instead, it may have been the first day of the rest of her life.
This morning, Harley joined Deb and me for an interview with WLOS about our new Trail Buddies Dog Day Out Program, sponsored by VCA Charities. Getting this interview scheduled was an adventure all by itself. Over several weeks we changed dates, times, and locations multiple times trying to coordinate with the television crew.
Living high in the Blue Ridge Mountains has many advantages, but convenience isn't always one of them! Since the WLOS crew was coming from Asheville, over an hour away, they couldn't make the trip all the way to our shelter. After several plans fell through, I suggested we meet in Black Mountain, a town I called home many years ago.
The night before, I found myself Googling walking trails in Black Mountain. Most of the places I remembered were a little too strenuous for filming, so I settled on beautiful Lake Tomahawk. The journalist agreed, saying they could meet us there, though they might be running a little late.
Since we arrived early, Deb and I took Harley for a stroll around town before heading to the lake.
Now, if you don't know Deb, you should. She is our newest board member and a walking, talking ray of sunshine. Ask her about her dogs, our dogs, dogs in general, and you'll quickly understand why she's one of the first people to test our Trail Buddies program. This past weekend alone, she took multiple shelter dogs to the Rhododendron Festival, introducing them to countless adults, children, and even a few canine friends.
When we arrived at Lake Tomahawk, a couple of young children on the playground noticed Harley. Before I could say a word, Deb smiled and said, "I think we should let them say hello."
We gave the children some treats to offer Harley, and their father started chatting with us.
Then he asked a question I wasn't expecting.
"So... is she available?"
I was floored.
We hadn't even filmed the interview yet, and this man was asking if he could foster Harley.
I gave him my number and told him to text me if they were interested. Then the film crew arrived and we got to work.
Harley was a star.
She walked beautifully, soaked up attention from everyone she met, and charmed the entire crew. More than one person commented that she would surely be adopted soon.
Then, as we were wrapping up, I saw the same father walking back toward us.
"Did you get my text?" he asked.
His family wanted to foster Harley.
The film crew quickly turned their cameras on him too. Laughing, he told them, "That's funny—I was just interviewed by WLOS on Father's Day!"
He talked about how much he loved the idea behind Trail Buddies and how seeing Harley in the community had made such an impression on his family.
And then...
Harley went home with him.
Will it be a foster home? Will it become her forever home?
We don't know yet.
What we do know is that this is exactly why Trail Buddies exists.
The program is designed to help dogs who often get overlooked—larger dogs, older dogs, mixed breeds, dogs who need a chance to be seen outside the shelter environment. Sometimes all it takes is a walk around a lake, a conversation at a playground, and the opportunity for someone to see who that dog really is.
Today gave us so much hope for what this program can accomplish.
Thank you to VCA Charities for believing in this vision and helping us launch Trail Buddies.
And Harley? Thank you for reminding us that sometimes the best stories happen when the cameras aren't rolling. ❤️🐾
