By Leslie Kilgore EBS STAFF
Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter is swapping snowshoes for hiking boots this summer as it brings its longtime winter fundraiser into a new season at the Madison Base Area at Big Sky Resort.
Known as the Snowshoe Shuffle in winter, the event returns as Tails & Trails this summer for a dog hike and fundraiser set for Saturday, July 11.
“We saw an opportunity to give a new spin on a fun event by bringing it to the summer season in Big Sky,” said Callie Houck, Heart of the Valley’s director of annual giving. “Attendees can expect to have a lot of fun and meet some wonderful dogs and pet lovers.”
The event invites participants and their dogs to begin the morning at the Madison Base Area parking lot before setting out on a 3.2-mile loop hike with 704 feet of elevation gain. The route is expected to take 1–2 hours and features views of Lone Mountain and water access for dogs along the trail.
“The hike is just challenging enough to be fun for all abilities and dogs,” Houck said.
The first 75 registered participants will receive a complimentary goodie bag for people and pets. After the hike, guests will return to the base area for lunch, a raffle and silent auction.
Raffle drawings will be held during lunch and the silent auction will remain open through Sunday, July 12 due to limited cell service at the venue. Items include artwork, pet-friendly packages and home goods. Online participation is available for those unable to attend.
“All the funds raised from Tails & Trails will go directly to help provide shelter, food, enrichment and medical care to the thousands of lost and homeless pets we service each year in Montana,” Houck said. “In 2025, Heart of the Valley provided services to over 3,400 pets. We could not do this without our generous supporters.”
Heart of the Valley is the open-admission shelter serving Gallatin and Madison counties, and accepts any cat or dog regardless of circumstance. The shelter also partners with rescue organizations across Montana to help place animals in homes around the state.
Beyond adoption services, the organization offers education programs, canine training classes, behavioral consultations, low-cost microchipping, spay and neuter assistance, volunteer opportunities and youth programming such as their popular Pet Pals summer camp.
“Fundraising events like Tails & Trails gives us a chance to spread awareness of our mission to the people we serve,” Houck said. “We are currently Big Sky’s local animal shelter and a resource for those looking to adopt, volunteer, foster, enroll kids in our summer kid’s camp and more.”
Houck added that ultimately the goal is to blend fundraising with connection between people, pets and the wider community. The organization hopes to continue building on its presence in Big Sky with events like Tails & Trails in the years ahead, while also meeting new pet lovers and supporters of open admission shelters like Heart of the Valley.
“We love hosting an annual Big Sky event and will continue to be involved with the pet loving community here,” she said. “We hope that everyone who participates has a great time and that it’s successful as both a fundraiser and a friendraiser for Heart of the Valley and other animal shelters around the state.”
