Senior hound dog finds his forever home after winning guests’ hearts at dog-friendly hotel

HIGHLANDS, N.C., and SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN PARK, TN (WLOS) — For hound dogs at shelters, it can be a long hunt to get adopted. But it just happened Wednesday, March 20, for an older dog named Calhoun — and a hotel stay had a lot to do with it.

The welcome is likely to have a different sound as guests check in to The Park on Main in Highlands.

“This is dog-friendly. Its dog-forward, I would say,” The Park on Main General Manager Devon Allio said Wednesday, as a hound dog’s howl echoed throughout the lobby.

It’s not only dog-friendly, Allio said, but it’s a place that fosters dogs from the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society.

“This relationship started in 2015,” said CHHS Executive Director David Stroud. “We’ve probably adopted 25-30 dogs through the history of our relationship, and those dogs have gone all over the country.”

PET PALS: CHECK OUT LOCAL ADOPTABLE ANIMALS

Calhoun, an 8-year-old hound dog mix rescued by the shelter last July as a stray in Hendersonville, is the latest dog in residence.

He’s not just had a chance to live in the lap of luxury, but he’s also gotten exposure to multiple guests — each one a possible forever adoptee.

“The guest took Calhoun to her room, took him on a walk,” Allio said.

That recent guest was Sydney Haykel, visiting from Nashville, Tennessee. She went home without him after her stay, but she said she couldn’t get him off her mind. Calhoun reminded her and her boyfriend of a previous dog they lost not long ago.

They decided they had to adopt him.

LOCAL ANIMAL LOVERS’ COMMITMENT TO CARING FOR ASHEVILLE’S FERAL CAT COLONIES

Haykel made the necessary arrangements with shelter staff, including CHHS assistant Jodi Henkel, to bring Calhoun to her home.

“Calhoun just kind of spoke to her,” Henkel said.

Plans were made for the hand-off at a rendezvous spot in Tennessee, at Sugarloaf Mountain Park, half-way between Highlands and Nashville.

Haykel was overjoyed at the reunion.

“We just fell in love with him and happy to take him home,” Haykel said.

He’ll have a playmate when he arrives — their other dog named Goober.

“Have them meet each other and then just get him roaming around and explore,” Haykel said. “I definitely want to get him a Starbucks pup cut at some point with whipped cream to celebrate.”

For The Park on Main, it’s a combination of emotions.

“Be sorry to see him go. It’s a sad day for us, but we’re also very happy he found his forever home,” said Allio.

Calhoun is a name of Scottish origin meaning “from the narrow woods,” — and fitting, as this older pup finally found his way to his forever home.

Haykel works for the Nashville Predators NHL hockey team and said the team does an annual dog calendar. Just maybe, Calhoun and Goober will make the cut.