It's a Dog's Life!
This summer, we had the chance to celebrate some of the Gunnison Valley’s most beloved residents—its dogs. From avalanche rescues to trail running pros, these four-legged locals are as much a part of our community as the mountains themselves. Their journeys have taken them from rescue shelters, ranches, and far-off places to a life filled with adventure, work, and companionship in our valley.
Their stories are ones of loyalty, service, and pure joy. From Striker’s life-saving avalanche searches to Kira’s warm greetings on Elk Avenue, each dog exemplifies dedication, heart, and the simple magic of a wagging tail. Together, they remind us of the bonds that make this place, and life itself, richer.
Bluebird had the privilege of featuring their stories in this summer’s edition of Bluebird Days Magazine. Read the full article below to meet these extraordinary pups!
It's a Dog's Life!
By Nancy Bush
Gunnison Valley residents don’t just love their pets, they celebrate them! Our pets are local heroes, treasured members of our families, part of our daily lives at work, at play, and at rest; they are our best friends. You will see our pets everywhere, on every trail and street corner, in restaurants, local shops and galleries, at the parks, on the ski lifts, or paddle boarding down the river with their humans!
This issue is dedicated to our doggie fur-ends and features some of the hardest-working and most well-known pups in the valley! They greet us each day with a wholly evident joy to be alive, wagging tails, unconditional love, and, sometimes, a few sloppy kisses. They lighten each day and seem to understand and appreciate this outdoor haven in which they live! In this laid-back mountain town atmosphere, our dogs are as much a part of the community as the locals.
Help is on the Way!
Meet Striker, a 4-year-old male Australian Shepherd from Catalina Australian Shepherds in Denver, Colorado. Striker is an Avalanche Search and Rescue Dog, and, as a team with his human, Zach Springer, Striker is certified through Crested Butte Ski Patrol and Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD), an organization that provides search and obedience training and certification for ski patrol and mountain rescue dogs. Once a dog is certified by C-RAD, they are put onto a state resource list that can be used by a Colorado State Search and Rescue Coordinator to deploy the dog team. There are a few helicopter resources that will fly the dog and handler to a search area for deployment. Striker has had many helicopter training opportunities and loves the heli! The Crested Butte Ski Patrol certification allows Striker to work and search on the ski area. Striker and Zach also volunteer and train with the Crested Butte Mountain Rescue Team.
Striker is trained to ride ski lifts, snowmobiles, snow cats, helicopters, planes, and even dirt bikes. Striker and Zach normally do search and rescue trainings 1-2 times a week, which consist of burying a person, backpacks, or dirty sweaters under the snow, and Striker finds them. When he finds his quarry, he digs and barks like crazy, notifying Zach that he found something. In the summer months, Zach and Striker are working towards a “wilderness air-scenting” certification, which is a similar style of searching as avalanche, minus the snow. Trainers hide people in the wilderness, and Striker goes out to find them!
Striker is very focused, dedicated, and headstrong when working, but he is also a sweetheart. He loves people and especially children. When Striker is not working, he loves playing with the family’s other Aussie, Kirra, going on hikes, playing in the river, playing frisbee, and just having fun with his mom, Kylie, Zach, Kirra, and his cat, Braap!
Big Al’s VIP
If you have ever been to, or just passed by, Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven at 207 Elk Avenue in Crested Butte, you have seen Big Al’s Very Important Puppy, Kira Carter, a beautiful chocolate Labrador Retriever, lounging out front, greeting passersby with a nod and a wag, watching over the neighboring shops, and just simply, holding down the fort.
Kira belongs to Big Al’s Manager, Jack Carter, who was also featured in the winter 2020 issue of our magazine. Jack got Kira as a puppy from a small farm in Madera, California. She is seven years old! And, Kira has come to work with Jack every day since Jack started working at Big Al’s seven years ago! For us locals, Kira is as much a part of Big Al’s as the bicycles and gear! Sweet and loving, Jack says that he hears many people leaving the shop saying, “we need a dog!” after interacting with Kira.
When Kira gets a notion, you will see her wandering down Elk to visit a few neighbors – getting a dog bone from the Bluebird Real Estate office or hanging on the porch at Bruhaus. She definitely has a way of finding a few extra nibbles! Her favorite treats are chewy bones, bananas, and steak! When Kira is not helping at the shop, her favorite thing to do, hands down, is to play fetch! She and Jack are inseparable – enjoying the beautiful outdoors!
Bluebird Buddy
Bluebird’s own ray of sunshine is Lola Mills! You can find Lola every day in Bluebird’s Gunnison office with her human, Steve, greeting friends and clients! Lola is a McNab, well-known around Gunnison as a working dog, bred to move cattle. She was born and bred in the Gunnison Valley to a long-time ranching family and has been with Steve Mills and Sue Noone since she was 8 weeks old – nine years ago! Steve, a residential realtor in the Gunnison Valley for over 20 years, has brought Lola to the office with him every day since!
True to her breed’s characteristics, Lola is impressively athletic, smart, even-tempered, and loyal. Being a herding dog, she is high-energy, and her first love is to hike anywhere, but particularly at Hartman Rocks. She is also a great cross-country skiing companion! While she is a relentless ball chaser, she’s pretty good at catching a frisbee, too. Stop by Bluebird and say hi to Lola!
The Huntress
Spunky Romy Schoeller was born in Austria! While most of her siblings remained in Austria to become hunting dogs, Romy traveled to Crested Butte with her humans, Walther and Susanne, at just 8 weeks old, to actively pursue all kinds of prey in her own backyard! Whether hiking Oh Be Joyful or Scarpe Ridge, Romy manages to follow the scent of the moles and marmots alike! Come winter, Romy can be found racing around the Nordic trails, be it at Town Ranch or Peanut Lake. Now three years old, very confident and happy in her mountain surroundings, you will hear Romy before you see her – as she is quite vocal! But unlike most other dachshunds, Romy is a standard wire-haired, and some locals have remarked that she resembles an otter!
The Runner
Beautiful Gypsy Hubert is a spirited 11-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer – and aptly named! A true wanderer, you have likely seen her from time to time, adventuring on the trails or trotting through the streets of Crested Butte! Gypsy’s true origins are unknown, as she was adopted by her humans, Brett and Katie, four years ago from the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League, where they believe she previously belonged to a breeder.
Life with Brett and Katie suits Gypsy perfectly! Her love for running is undeniable, and she can often be found exploring with (or without) Katie, on (and off) trails around CB. Katie – also a distance runner – and Gypsy are a match made in heaven! Also, like a true pointer, squirrels and birds hold a particular fascination for Gypsy, and she can spend hours in her yard focused on the animals. Gypsy has also developed a rather refined palate and is known to enjoy a Miette burger from Ace on occasion – proving that even a sweet rescue can find and appreciate the finer things in life! This energetic girl has brought boundless joy, love, adventure, and a touch of the wild to Brett and Katie’s home. Gypsy is a testament to the wonderful surprises rescue animals can bring to their new families!
You can follow Gypsy on her Instagram @wheresgypsythegsp
A Perfect Fit!
And last, but certainly not least, we recognize Sasha – a gorgeous, 5-year-old Malamute, rescued by her humans, Steve and Narda Gibbs, last year from Polaris, a Malamute rescue service in Golden, Colorado. Sweet, smart, strong, and full of personality, Sasha immediately charms everyone she meets! Malamutes are a breed that loves to hang out with others, so she’s happy to sit on the porch until someone suggests a walk! Sometimes, you can spot Sasha and her furry buddy from across the street, Calvin, taking their own afternoon walks together!
Of course, Sasha is made for Crested Butte and the cold weather! She loves the snow, and you will see her outside just lying in a pile of snow – relaxing! Her hiking skills are a perfect match for her winter-loving owner, Steve, as she is a master at exploring in the snow and locating (smelling) the correct paths. She also loves her ball! Sasha makes every day more fun! As Narda says, “It is remarkable how easy it is to love a dog!”
If you are interested in pet adoption in the Gunnison Valley, contact:
Paradise Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) at info@pawscrestedbutte.org
Oh Be Dogful Rescue and Sanctuary at ohbedogfulrescueandsanctuary.com
Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League at gvawl.org
