Heather Gutshall

Dogs are my life… now.  I was the Director of Corporate Communications for a technology company when we made the decision to start fostering dogs.  Our lives have changed dramatically since that decision was made.  We have traded the corporate world for the canine one and have never been happier! 

Rescuer

I am am a volunteer foster parent specializing in "Pit Bull" adoptions.  The slang term "Pit Bull" includes American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and mixes of these breeds.  Part of my job is to make sure applicants live in areas without Breed Sprecific Legislation (BSL) in place.  If they do and are still allowed to adopt a pittie, I help to educate them on any special requirements they will need to meet in order to be in compliance with their city or town ordinances with may include additional insurance, muzzling the dog in public, licensing, etc.  I am strongly opposed to BSL.  For more on that, please see the Pit Bull Info section on the menu to the left.

Pitties have special requirements and we need to be sure adoptive families understand the breed and will take the caution required to keep them happy and safe. Home visits and supervised introductions of the current family dog and the new pit are also a good idea to ensure a happy ending for dog and his new human parents.

Foster Family

We have been touched so deeply by the pitties we have been fortunate enough to have as our temporary guests. We have been trusted with the care of animals who arrive too thin, or weak, or scared and we are given the opportunity to help them find their confidence and eventually their family.  The days we say goodbye to our fosters as they leave us to start their new lives with their forever families are the toughest.  I always cry, but the tears don't last long because there is a constant supply of forgotten, abandoned and mistreated dogs to fill the empty spot in our home and hearts.

When we picked up our first foster dog, Gunther, we were a bit apprehensive. I know now that we are so blessed to be trusted with these precious souls and will do this for as long as we are able. We have found that rescued dogs are more resilient and forgiving of our species than we could ever be of theirs. 

If you would like information on becoming a foster parent to a needy animal, please contact me.

Mark Stoutzenberger

heather has been encouraging me to write up a little about myself and post it on our website.  I suppose that some information about the man running around the greater Providence area with a pack of dogs would be helpful to our potential clients, adopters, foster parents, and friends.  She is right, of course, as usual.  It just took me quite a while to put some thoughts down.  It seems like it would be a fairly simple task, but all these dogs seem to have me in a constant state of "writer's block". 

Don't mistake this for a bad thing.  In fact, it is just the opposite.  Dogs live in the moment and aren't very concerned about much other than that.  Our home is a constant flow of dog traffic.  It is so very important that we focus on each and every dog and maintain a positive and calm energy at all times.  So...We are busy!  Most humans don't live in the moment and are mainly preoccupied by past and future.  We have all learned so much over the past few years, all of these wonderful canines have changed our perception on the world and taught us so much about who we are.

And scene:  Picture yourself 6,500 feet above sea level, on a calm and serene July morning.  You are at the end of a 2 hour hike, which brought you to the highest point that the eye could see. A scorching hot day is on the horizon, but the heat doesn't seem so bad in the dry, desert air.  Overlooking the town of Kanab, Utah you breathe deeply and realize that this may be one of the most peaceful places on Earth.  And that is right about where Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located.  Then, we met Handsome Dan. 

Not that heather and I weren't already pretty in tune with the dog world, up to this point.  I mean, not to pat ourselves on the back, but their aren't very many people who can say they have given Little Red treats and met Georgia!  But Kanab, Utah, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and our main man- Handsome Dan, sealed our existence in the dog world. 

Now, we move forward.  With our loyal and best friends by our side.  There are so many great dogs out there who need our help.  Yes, Outbound Hounds is our business.  And we need the business to make everything else possible.   We have built up such a wonderful group of human clients and dog friends that it is almost hard to believe that this whole thing got started with a "foster dog" named Gunther, only a few years ago.   We look forward to servicing you, helping as many of our canine friends as possible, and all the while filling up our own hearts with all the love and strength that these dogs provide us.

So many dogs, so little time.  But we will continue to try our best to live in the moment.  And you can be certain that your dog will be in as loving and caring of an environment that one can find. 

Ocean and Story