We create exciting community sporting and educational events, and work to educate the public about year-round recreational activities the whole family can enjoy with the family pets.  In our efforts, we include diverse non-profit and not-for-profit organizations, local schools and libraries, businesses, and the community-at-large.

The Mission of Fourteen Angels

Created after 9/11 to help support search and rescue canines and other service dogs, Fourteen Angels is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating public awareness and support for the contributions of service and working dogs to individuals and to the community-at-large.

In achieving our mission, we work  in community partnership to create exciting canine sporting events in support of service dogs. In this process, we bring a spirit of excitement, fun, community cooperation, and education to all we do.  We work with educators; artistic, and music organizations; historic societies and museums; local abnd regional businesses and non-profits; federal, state and local governments; and with the cooperation and support of individuals like you in a wholistic approach to education and to community service.

Director's Update October 5, 2009

It was a tough year last year for many of us as the markets crashed, and we watched our friends, families and country struggle. I wanted to thank all the folks who stepped up to the plate to help us and who are helping each other get through the rough times.  There may be some light at the end of the tunnel now.

In February '08, we went on hiatus due to illness... but cranked up for 2009-2010 up to get back on schedule this year with a variety of events.  We enter 2010 with a spirit of new beginnings and strength of purpose, and send out our best wishes and gratitude to you all. 

Pat Kanzler, Lake Davis Race Founder, Recovering and Doing Well-The Lake Davis Sled Dog Race founder, Foundation supporter, and long-term Sierra Nevada Dog Driver Pat Kanzler, retired from mushing and from organizing the Lake Davis race, while battling breast cancer. Now recovering, we continue to rely on her support and advice with gratitude while we continue her work...as she e-mails us from her new home in the Pacific Northwest where she continues her work as a nurse, bikes or jogs along the ocean daily, paints, and sings to the seagulls...

Renowned Skijor Medalist and Good Friend Mike Callahan Now Battling Leukemia-Our good friend and Foundation advisor and supporters Mike Callahan and his wife Billie have both fought health issues this last several years.  Billie is a melanoma survivor, and Mike this summer was diagnosed with a virulent form of leukemia: acute myeloid leukemia. Mike is a renowned skijor and bikejor competitor, and avid dryland mushing proponent and amazing athlete, as well as a former President of Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers.  He and Billie helped keep the local races going and Mike is a fabulous writer with a direct style and wry sense of humor.  You can follow his health blog and send your thoughts  to www.amllog.blogspot.com .  We send our love and healing wishes to Mike and Billie both.

Thanks to These Amazing People- I wanted to personally thank business consultant Katherine Schifferle of Chico for helping as Treasurer, and Kari Wheeler of Wheeler Ranch & Feed for stepping up to be Secretary of the Foundation. During our friend and colleague Pat Kanzler's illness, Cindy and Rock Wood have my profound gratitude for coming onboard in a big way to help with the expanded California Gold "Mush" Sled Dog & Snowshoe Races with the 9th Annual  Lake Davis Sled Dog Race, in partnership with Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers and with the support and assistance of the service organization, Soroptimist International of Portola. Shane Prouty, Doug Wurzlebacher and Board Members of High Sierra Animal Rescue are all onboard to help with trails and race needs as well.

PTSD: The Battle Continues-In another recent challenge to our ongoing efforts, our hearts and minds go out to the many returning veterans who battle Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  It makes us understand even more the value of therapy dogs in our mission.  The five therapy dogs we have "here at the farm" have helped amazingly, and I am following the benefits of therapy dogs for returning soldiers...having a great many positive and personal experiences to relate.

I want to thank everyone who has been helping our organization, dear friends who are struggling during these times, our family, and the family of Julien Lambert during these challenges with their kind words of encouragement and notes of kindness, support, and help.

We cannot tell you what this has meant to us all.

Dog Power 2007 -Despite all the challenges, we managed to follow through with the organization of the Annual Meeting of the International Sled Dog Racing Association in Reno called "Dog Power 2007", and featured the "West Coast." and the growth of dryland mushing and RECREATING with your pets.  Some people were not happy we featured dryland so prominently and the issues of climate change in our sport.  Other folks were thrilled we worked to make the recreational possibilities for the sport year-round. 

So many folks helped with this event, but we wanted to especially mention Eric Morris'  Red Paw Dog Feed and Eric himself who came, and also arranged for the attendance of both the wonderful John Stetson from his work with Global Warming 101, and the incomparable Lance Mackey.  Lance did a special, intimate breakfast fundraiser for those interested in listening to him talk, and interested in asking questions.  Lance was generous with his time and support of the event, and to all those individuals and businesses who attended. This fundraiser made $850 for the Foundation on behalf of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, and the funds will be used to purchase field replacement supplies and equipment for the next "disaster relief" effort where working dogs are needed. (We are still getting thank-yous for emptying our accounts to purchase desperately needed replacement supplies and equipment during the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. Note also our entire organization is made up of unpaid volunteers, and all effort is donated.)

Julien Lambert Memorial Fund-On a note of great sadness, we were contacted by a dear friend of the family of 10-year-old Julien Lambert of France, who died suddenly on February 10th.  He took his first sled dog ride January a year ago, and the dogs and the sport became an enthusiastic love. He was a good friend to many and beloved by all who knew him.  Our efforts on behalf of Julien's memory include the creation of the   Julien Lambert International Memorial Youth Sportmanship & Humanitarian Fund for Junior Mushers. The first Julien Lambert Youth Sportmanship and Humanitarian  Award will be given at the California Gold Mush Sled Dog & Snowshoe Races being held the weeked of Feb.28-March 1.  We will be contacting the International Sled Dog Racing Association in an effort to make this a recognized, world-wide effort, on behalf of youth mushers everywhere, to especially  encourage sportmanlike conduct, humanitarianism, and care of their teams.

We are all profoundly touched and honored to be asked to work on this effort ,and our heartfelt condolances go to Julien's friends and family.  We light a candle to his loving memory.

Website-To update our website and contact information after a host of electronic woes, while working with kind and generous webhosts and thoughtful and wonderful but overburdened webmasters, in desperation I myself learned to do simple website design. 

Though the Foundation's website is being moved to a new server and will hopefully be updated soon , you can still go to www.FourteenAngelsFoundation.com and see what we are working to achieve, and some of our past activities.  Looking back, I think we have done a lot in a short time with our core group of very hard working volunteers...and special thanks to Rick Schlang and www.VirtualRep.com for everything he has done for us from Day 1.

Permanent Non-Profit Status-The Foundation was granted permanent non-profit status in December of 2008  by the government, having met our 5-year mark in good standing. (Hard to believe we have been working for eight  years on this effort, with non-profit status for five!)  

I wanted also to thank dear friends Jane Smith and Laura Crocker (successfully recovering from her own health issues), Pete Meidzinski, Dottie Dennis (new metal joints included), Mike and Billie Callahan, Pat Kanzler, Cindy Wood, Rick and Alana Schlang, and our many other good friends for encouraging our continuing efforts.  With the kind support of such friends, our energy is continually renewed...

Again, you have our profound gratitude for your help, kindness, and support during this year.  We will continue to work hard, and will continue to try to make a difference with the help of your kind words and encouragement.

I encourage everyone to go to the International Sled Dog Racing Association website, and to explore the exciting work Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers is doing in the region.  Recreating with your dogs is not just physically beneficial for you and your pet, it is also good for your mental health!

Take good care, and we'll see you at the races!!

Most sincerely,

Eileen Burke-Trent, Executive Director

For more information, CLICK HERE (Foundation Site Under Construction and Revision)

Stay tuned for California Gold Mush activity updates Friday Movie Tickets "Iron Will" and planned Spaghetti Dinner and Dance, Saturday "Meet the Musher" Community Dinner and Celtic Music, and for Sled Dog Race Ride raffle tickets

Who We Are For This Event

Fourteen Angels Foundation

Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers

Soroptimist International Portola

Feather Community Arts Center

Plumas County Sheriff's Department Search & Rescue

Sled Dog Central

International Sled Dog Racing Association

The Town of Portola, CA

Chalet View Lodge

Beckwourth Ranger District and the USDA Plumas National Forest

Plumas-Eureka State Park

Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce

and others...

Come join us and share the excitement!