For the past five weeks, I have been earning the trust of abandoned dogs along the Blue Ridge Parkway, coming close to bringing them to safety. However, everything changed when the Parkway was abruptly closed, allegedly to help trap these dogs. Disturbingly, instead of seeing a rescue operation, I heard gunshots echoing through the area and watched these frightened animals become even more traumatized. Heartbreakingly, the brown dog I had grown especially close to appears to have suffered gunshot wounds. The trust these creatures were starting to place in humans has been shattered.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, a cherished scenic route, should be a place of preservation and safety, not a hunting ground for vulnerable dogs that have already been abandoned. The actions I witnessed were not simply inhumane; they were cruel and counterproductive to the very objective of rescue. These are not dangerous animals; they are lost, scared, and in desperate need of compassion and care.

Change in jurisdiction should be implemented, allowing local rescue groups to safely capture, care for, and rehome these dogs.

Historical evidence suggests that humane approaches lead to better outcomes for both animals and communities. According to the ASPCA, community-based solutions not only manage stray populations effectively but also foster public goodwill and collaboration with rescue organizations dedicated to saving these dogs.

Our goal is to turn this into a movement that provides the National Park Service Director with fact-based evidence to support a humane policy for handling dogs in situations like this—one that protects vulnerable animals while also giving park rangers clear guidance so this kind of confusion and tragedy does not happen again.

Even if this innocent brown dog does not survive the infection from her gunshot wounds, we must learn from this heartbreaking situation and create a better plan moving forward. This should lead to stronger policy, clearer protocols, and a more humane response that protects both people and animals in the future.

Join me in urging local authorities and the National Parks Service to cease this inhumane hunting and immediately collaborate with rescue groups to adopt effective, humane methods. Together, we can transform the Blue Ridge Parkway from a place of fear back into a sanctuary for both humans and animals.

Your signature can make a significant difference in saving these innocent creatures from facing such a dire fate.

Sign this petition to demand an end to gunfire against these abandoned dogs and champion humane rescue tactics instead. Let’s be the voice that ensures the Blue Ridge Parkway remains a haven of resourcefulness and kindness.