SANCTUARY DOGS
Meet Our Pack
These dogs are forever residents of our Sanctuary and often times help us with our rescues!
This is our family; none are available for adoption.
Kellee Lulu
Kellee Lulu was our original Unega pack member. Because of her, Unega was born.
After a heroic battle against Cluster Seizures, we lost her in November of 2022 but she remains the reason Unega exists today.
Boone (Boo)
Boone was our second rescue after Kellee-Lulu. Boone was a working dog who wanted a different life. Boone continued to leave the band of sheep for a nearby neighbor’s home. After 3 attempts by the rancher to bring Boone back to work, they got tired of him and made the decision to shoot him when the neighbor Boone was visiting said they would take him. From there they called us and Boone and Lulu were Boyfriend and Girlfriend from the very beginning.
Boone is our wise man. The one we use for many rescues with his calm demeanor, he is an expert at helping us sniff out lost dogs.
Olaf
In March of 2018, a close friend of Tiffany’s wondered if we were interested in watching her girlfriends 1+ year old male Akbash, Olaf, while they were in Hawaii for 10 days. We met the owner who was struggling with Olaf, once we let him off leash he ran and ran bucking and kicking and didn’t respond to any commands to come. It was apparent that Olaf could use some obedience training. The owner had previously purchased a training collar and hired a dog trainer that failed to yield results. After a few days of training with the leash and collar, Olaf was free to walk and play with the other dogs (Kellee LuLu and Boone). Olaf learned quickly and started to mellow a bit. Day 10 we expected the return of Olaf’s owners, but received an e-mail stating that after some contemplating during their vacation, they would no longer be keeping Olaf. If we didn’t want him, we were informed that they would be taking him to the local shelter for adoption. There was no question Olaf would be staying with us as the third member of the Unega pack.
Josey Joe (JJ)
“IN DANGER OF BEING EUTHANIZED”
That was the title of the email, included in the email was a photo and a short summary about a 9 month old male Pyrenees named, Josiah. The dogs location was Fairfield Idaho, only one hour away. In a nutshell, Josiah was uncontrollable, aggressive, unfriendly towards other dogs, and humans. We were Josiah’s last hope. When Tiffany picked him up he was double muzzled, a chest harness and zip ties tight around his neck, however, this aggressive beast turned quiet and shaking when she took him away from the conditions that he came from. After removing all the restraints but one, she took a deep breath and removed the last muzzle and was greeted with lots of licks and kisses.
Tiffany returned home to the pioneers where Josiah would meet his new family LuLu, Boone, and Olaf. No new member is easily accepted into the pack without the pack members setting some rules of pecking order or status. In several weeks time Josiah was renamed Josey and was allowed to roam freely in the house and eat and drink without harassment from the other members. Josey’s aggression would also slowly fade from the calming effects of the pack, the freedom to roam and the love and attention of family. Josey was now officially the fourth member of the Unega pack.
Spencer
One day the phone rang with a number I knew well, Mountain Humane. I was expecting news of another Pyrenees or Akbash being brought in, but I was informed the young Pyrenees puppy with the embedded collar named Spencer was ready for a visit. I immediately drove the trip 13 miles south to the shelter on Croy Canyon road in Hailey, Idaho. In my mind this was just a visit, I wasn’t planning on adopting. Once outside I noticed Spencer was already in the pen pacing about. I went in and said nothing, moving slowly as Spencer sized me up and I him. He was much smaller than I expected for the 10 month old that was listed in his bio. I brought special treats for Spencer as a friendly gesture and to break the ice of a new face in his space. I placed a treat and walked away and Spencer would sneak in steal it and run away to eat. We played this game until the food was gone. After that I just sat quietly and waited for him to make the next move. After 2 days of thinking about Spencer being alone in his crate and he maybe wondering if I would return with more treats, I felt the overwhelming need to pay him another visit. From that day forward for several weeks I would visit him nearly every day. Each visit Spencer would get a bit more comfortable to the point where I could touch him. Trust was building and we began to play and run like kids around the run. Finally we walked on leash around the pen. And then walks outside. Soon Spencer would be ready to go home to his new family.
Saturday September 29, 2019. I called the shelter to inform them that I was ready to pick up Spencer. Everyone was very excited, but sad to see him go. During the drive to the shelter, the extra collar I had received with the bundle purchase, was laying there on the seat next to me. It was as that moment when I realized this was the plan all along. An extra collar for Spencer.
Nuka
Nuka was one of 4 sisters rescued with their Mom on Christmas Day 2019.
Survivors of being left behind by a local sheep company. They survived below-zero temperatures for 5 weeks deep in Croy Canyon before we were able to find them and bring them to safety.
We have a special bond with Nuka as she was the runt and the most scared. We love her so much!
Rainey
Rainey came from a kill shelter in Boise, neglected and abused. She was tied to a chain her entire young life; Rainey never knew what it was like to play, walk, or have a loving touch. We drove to Boise to save her, and she became a permanent member of the Unega Pack. She is a playful, energetic bundle of love! If anyone stops petting her, she’s quick with the classic ‘Pyr Paw’!
Amber
Amber was another rescue puppy left behind from the local sheep companies. All alone for weeks in the high mountains North of Ketchum, we were able to bring this young baby home with help from our wise old Boone who helped with the rescue. Amber is beautiful and still to this day very wary of humans, this is why she will always have our hearts here at the Unega Sanctuary.
Tyson
Tyson was another save from a local sheep company. Randomly checking on the working dogs during a Sunday drive we came across Tyson with the entire right side of his face ripped apart and they still had him working. We scooped him up and took him straight to the vet for surgery. We informed the ranchers who owned this dog that we took him in to get much needed help, they complied but then fought us to get him back. Let’s just say he is a permanent fixture and the sweetest boy ever!!
Charlie Girl
We received a phone call about a young female Pyrenees that had been in and out of the shelter system over and over again. Some abuse and lots of sadness. We couldn’t have that… we pulled her and she will never have to worry about a forever home again. The 11th permanent member of the Unega pack.
Finley
We rescued Finley from Smiley Creek here in The Valley. After a phone that he was left behind, we were able to rescue Finley. Finley had a broken Femur and was fractured up into his hip. Finley went through a 12-hour hip replacement surgery in November of 2022. After 12 weeks of healing and starting to feel good Finley then suffered a stroke. Finley through all his hardships is the sweetest, gentlest 2-year-old young man. Finley with his medical history will remain at The Sanctuary to receive the best care and the most love for the rest of his years.
Maverick
Maverick was rescued on July 4th, 2022. After receiving a phone call from a camper that he had a 4-month-old puppy come into his campsite we met up with him as fast as we could. Some 30 miles out in the middle of the forest. This young man was left behind. With no injuries, we are not sure if he wandered off and couldn’t find his way back to the sheep. But what we do know for sure is Maverick is being groomed to be our next Boone. Boone is showing Maverick the ropes. So he in the future will be able to help us with the rescue.
Cleo
Cleo was rescued in August of 2022, yes another sweet baby left behind to fend for herself in the middle of the woods. We received a phone call from a biker that he saw her cowering by the river. When we found her she was scared to death and like Finley had a broken femur. Poor girl was terrified and broken. We scooped her up and got her the care she needed. Today she is also, a sanctuary dog. Maverick and Cleo are inseparable much like Kellee-Lulu and Boone were.
Cassie
Cassie was one of 35 dogs we rescued from The so-called farm in Buhl, Idaho. Broken literally, her front leg was broken in 3 places by the owner of the farm. Cassie is still very traumatized from her past and will forever be a Sanctuary Dog so she can finish out her life with love and happiness.
Miya
Miya is our most recent addition to the sanctuary. The first few years of her life have been extremely harsh on her and it shows. She was initially held in horrendous conditions and used for repeated breeding. Upon breaking free from that, she has been incredibly intent on never being held captive again. She has faced multiple threats of being shot and even evaded attempts of poisoning. Miya is extremely smart and a master escape artist. Understandably, she has a strong fear of humans since they have only ever let her down. Now at Unega, she is slowly-but-surely starting to trust and accept love. She has a long road ahead but we believe she has found her forever home with us.
