The American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue operates out of San Francisco with a straightforward mission: getting Coonhounds and Bloodhounds into homes where they’ll actually be valued. These are working dogs bred for stamina and scent tracking, and they need people who understand that they’re going to bay, they’re going to follow a scent trail, and they’re going to require serious exercise.

If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area and think a Coonhound or Bloodhound might fit your life, start by contacting the National Adoption Coordinator, Jayne Schlegel. She handles the adoption process and can match you with a dog based on your actual living situation and experience level. If you’re outside the immediate Bay Area but in California, Arizona, Nevada, or New Mexico, Tine Kellogg is the point person for your region.

The rescue focuses on making sure the transition works for both the dog and the family. They’re not just handing over dogs; they’re thinking through whether a particular hound is right for a particular home. That matters with these breeds because they have strong instincts and distinct personalities. A dog that thrives with an active family in the Sierra foothills might struggle in an apartment setting, and the rescue seems to understand that difference.

The rescue maintains a website with available dogs listed, which gives you a sense of what they have at any given time and what these dogs actually look like when they come in. You can browse there first to see if a particular dog catches your attention, then reach out through the appropriate coordinator. It’s a practical setup if you’re serious about adoption rather than just casually exploring the idea.