A howling good time at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Howling echoes through the juniper trees at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah — but it might not actually be an echo. A parade of bellowing pooches lines up at the start of one of the Dogtown trails, ready to serenade anyone in a mile radius.

Leading the charge for this year’s “hounds and huskies” walk was 11-year-old black-and-tan coonhound mix Haku, joined by Best Friends caregiver Al Sawadan. Caregivers from across Dogtown — the part of the Sanctuary where more than 400 dogs reside at any given time — brought out their houndiest and huskiest companions for the pack parade.

Many of these dogs might have been at risk of being killed in a shelter, especially if that shelter were full. One of the ways Best Friends is working to bring the country to no-kill is by taking in pets from shelters and giving them the time and care they need to find homes. And that includes fun walks with friends.

They headed toward the trails that wind through the gorgeous scenery surrounding the Sanctuary with tails wagging, tongues lolling, and of course voices ringing. But the pack wasn’t quite complete yet. With a last-minute change to the route, Haku and Al led the group to pick up the caboose: hound mix Skitter. With Skitter proudly strutting his stuff, the walk was ready to begin.

The walk is more than just a stroll through the Sanctuary. It offers the dogs a chance to socialize with each other and with the caregivers. “It’s really just fun, and the dogs, especially the hounds, love pack environments,” Al says. Events like this enrich the dogs’ days and deepen the bond between animals and caregivers — all while providing a symphony that everyone, canine and human alike, can enjoy.

The group walks don’t always have special themes like hounds and huskies. Many include any of the dogs at the Sanctuary, each one joining in with their own rhythm, bark, and pace. There’s something magical about hearing a chorus of howls echo through the canyon as the morning sun hits the red rocks.

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“Haku and Skitter are probably the loudest dogs at the Sanctuary,” Al says with a grin. “Haku doesn’t usually bay for his whole regular walk, but during the group walks, he bays the whole time.”

Distinguished senior gentleman Haku doesn’t let his age slow him down a bit. “When he gets into the walk and turns his nose on, there’s no stopping him. He just wants to go,” Al says. So off he went, leading over 20 other dogs through the trails of the Sanctuary with purpose and pride.

“We’d love to make this a monthly tradition,” Al says of the hounds and huskies walk. “It’s one of the most enriching things we can do for dogs who enjoy each other’s company — especially hounds and huskies.” Everybody gets a chance to join in, including caregivers and volunteers, with 35 joining up for one of the group walks.

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As the pack winds down and the echoes fade into the canyon walls, it’s clear these walks are more than exercise — they’re a celebration of life, connection, and the promise of a future where every dog gets this chance. For Haku, it’s one more adventure to add to a lifetime of them — proof that age, like distance, is no match for a hound with heart.

Haku may have led the pack that day. But every bark, bay, and boisterous tail wag told the same story: Life is better when you walk it together.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.