Passion For The Pack
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT
Picture
A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER:
We here at Passion for the Pack are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, fostering, adoption, transport and education pertaining to the North American Carolina Dog breed.  Also, our heart for families of veteran suicide victims and those veterans struggling with depression and/or suicidal thoughts. We hope your visit here will educate you to this amazing breed and our wish to share the healing power of the dingo with those in need. Welcome to our pack! 

Sincerely,

Kelly
Founder of Passion for the Pack
OUR STORY:
In the summer of 2013, founder Kelly Goolsby lost his father (army veteran during the Korean War) to suicide. The weeks following the unexpected tragedy tested Kelly’s strength as he would have to battle through severe anxiety and depression.

Almost a week to the day after the funeral for his father, Kelly’s brother reached out to him asking him if he could take a young dog and give it a home as he would be moving away for a job out of state.

Kelly first said no to this idea as there was too much happening in his mind and life to take care of a dog but he reluctantly agreed to bring the “D.J.” to Nashville and help find a home for her. 

D.J. could instantly sense Kelly’s grief and would not leave his side for even a moment. She lovingly kept her head on his leg and waited patiently through the process and it LITERALLY saved Kelly’s life.

One night, at the lowest mental and spiritual point in his journey, Kelly was alone in his room and contemplating the worst outcome, when D.J. pushed the door open and pressed her head against Kelly’s leg. D.J. would not stop until Kelly followed her downstairs, out of his room and away from his thoughts.

At that moment, Kelly began to cry realizing what D.J. had been able to do for him and it was then that Kelly decided he wanted to help the Carolina Dog breed.

Passion for the pack was formed and along with his co-founder Grant Fisher, the two began adopting, fostering and rescuing Carolina dogs from “high kill” shelters and returning the favor that D.J. so graciously provided Kelly.

Kelly’s dream is to help train and certify Carolina dogs to be emotional support dogs for those in need, battling depression, suicidal thoughts, veterans, families of veterans and the family and friends of suicide victims.

There are thousands of these amazing dogs all across the country in high kill shelters being put down every day. 

Passion for the Pack's goal is to rescue as many Carolina Dogs as possible and educate people on North America's oldest breed.
ABOUT CAROLINA DOGS:
The Carolina dog, also known as a yellow dog, “Yaller” dog, is a breed of medium-sized, primitive dog breed that lives mostly in the Southeastern United States. Originally a landrace breed, the Carolina dog was rediscovered living as free-roaming population by I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., though originally documented in American dog-related publications in the 1920s. Carolina dogs show admixture with other dog breeds from Eurasia dating back thousands of years.

Carolina dogs are a medium sized; height ranges from 17 to 24 inches (45–61 cm), and weight from 30 to 65 pounds (15–20 kg). The ears are characteristic and are erect, very long, and moderately slender, tapering way up to elegantly pointed tips and they can be individually turned to the direction of any sound, providing extremely sensitive hearing The dog ranges in build from muscular yet slender and graceful to somewhat stockier animals. The dogs legs are also graceful but strong. The hind midsection is firm and narrow. The overall build in a healthy, properly fed Carolina dog is svelte to somewhat stockier, strong and athletic. Paws are relatively large. The snout and the notably elongated, fox-like ears are spitz-like. The tail is usually upturned and often has a hooked kink in it. The coat is usually short and smooth, characteristic of a warm-climate dog.

Colors vary, and may include reddish ginger, buff, fawn, black-and-tan, or piebald, with or without white areas on toes, chest, tail tip and muzzle. The eyes are at an oblique angle and almond shaped. The eyes vary in color, but are usually dark brown or medium to dark orange. The area along the edges of the eyes is often (but not always) a distinctive black "eyeliner" coloration which becomes more pronounced by contrast in lighter-colored dogs. The lips are often black, even in light-colored dogs. Frequently, puppies have a melanistic mask that usually fades as the adult coat comes in.

Carolina Dogs are believed to be one of the oldest breeds, crossing over the “Great Land Bridge” and becoming companion dogs to the indigeous population of North America. Glover Marill Allen, in a 1920 publication cites late nineteenth-century studies of skeletal remains of dogs that could be found from Alaska to Florida to the Greater Antilles and westward to the Great Plains, and were excavated from Indian mounds.

In July 2017, the American Kennel Club (AKC, the largest dog breed registry in the United States) accepted the Carolina Dog breeding program into its Foundation Stock Services (FSS) the first step toward official AKC breed recognition. AKC has the dog listed under their “hound” group.

Did I mention they were cute? To learn more visit our YouTube, instagram and Facebook pages for videos, pics, training tips and recipes!!
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT