Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Galen Sylk. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Galen, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I began volunteering for Soul Dog Rescue last spring, and it has become the most meaningful thing I have ever done. When I first started volunteering, it was to become a foster for the shelter. Shortly after visiting the shelter a few times, I felt like there was a really big need when it came to socialization for the shelter dogs. Having learned from my own dog, Baxter, there are needs that dogs have that do not get fulfilled in shelter situations, no matter how much the shelter tries. These dogs really needed exercise and socialization with people, and also dogs, in a better setting. The shelter setting is so stressful – barking dogs, strangers walking around, etc. This is what gave me the idea to start hosting “Rescue Dog Walks” where people can sign up to take a shelter dog out for a group walk. I found a nearby lake that had enough space for the dogs to feel comfortable. Our first group had almost 20 signups, and we have had between 15-20 people sign up each time! These walks have made a massive difference for the shelter dogs. They learn to wear harnesses, walk on a leash, learn “sit” and accept treats gently. They learn to be loved, and held and cared for. We have had 15 adoptions directly from these rescue walks, and plenty more thanks to the generosity of the volunteers who share and post each dogs story. Not only this, but there are more volunteers signing up to come to events at the shelter than ever. The privilege of watching these shelter dogs do a complete 360′ when leaving the shelter and going on these walks has been one of the most important things. They are completely different dogs on these walks than the excited, barking pup people are passing on in the shelter. Just because a dog is excited, does not mean they cannot learn to be calm, and these walks are helping teach people and pups.

Galen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started out in a completely different field than I am now, having worked as an attorney on the East Coast back in 2018. Through plenty of trials (literally) and tribulations, I learned that I needed to do something else with my life. Fast forward to 2023, and I am now a shelter dog volunteer, foster dog mom, and I work for an incredible company with a mission to help dogs, The Mutt Dog. I never ever would have thought this was possible 6 years ago. The suit and high-heel wearing lawyer walking through the courthouse is the opposite of the current hiking boot wearing, dirt-covered, adventure seeker I am now, and I couldn’t be happier. Three years ago, my dog Baxter came into my life, and he changed everything. I learned so much about patience and perseverance. Baxter was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia and illiopsoas tendinopathy at just 5 months old, and just recently diagnosed with a herniated disc in his lower back. If you saw Baxter, you might be able to tell he has health issues, but at first glance he comes off as the typical playful and adorable golden retriever mix that he is. But, I know he struggles. His struggle and my search for a cure brought me to starting my Instagram page, @baxtersmountain. I wanted to share that despite Baxter’s health issues, and with the right care, he is a totally normal dog. I heard far too many times that people “wouldn’t want a dog with so many issues”, and I wanted to change that dialogue. From here, I met such an incredible community of dog-lovers and started as a hiking leader for @hikingdogsofinsta, a page that organizes hiking meetups all over the world. I met even more incredible people and their pups on these meetups, and was able to use it as an opportunity to talk about how Baxter’s treatments make hiking possible for him. Watching Baxter make so many friends truly showed me just how kind of a dog he is, and I knew he would make for an amazing foster brother. We started fostering pups for a few different shelters, and now foster primarily for Soul Dog Rescue, a rescue that saves dogs off of reservations down in New Mexico. We started fostering, and then leading group hikes for the shelter dogs too! All of this culminated in reaching my dream job – doing everything I have been doing as a volunteer, but for work. I started working for The Mutt Dog, an amazing company with a passionate mission for helping rescue dogs and shelters alike with different needs. We sell different types of apparel and donate a portion of the proceeds to shelters in the country. We also provide shelters with help in all different areas (social media, donations, strategy, etc.). It is our mission to help get as many dogs adopted as possible, to share as many as we can, and help as many shelters as we can. I have never been so proud of something in my life, and I am so honored to work for this company and feel so grateful for everything that led me to this position. The support of my family through this journey is the reason I made it here, and the reason I continue to strive to make a difference.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to help more shelter dogs get adopted, share more about volunteering, and share stories about Baxter’s health issues. Each of these things are incredibly important to me. Often times, people do not realize that they can go to their local shelter and spend a few hours helping out. This inspires me to share more about how to get involved. I also feel very passionate about sharing information about the shelter dogs and how the shelter environment is stressful – to showcase that shelter dogs will be different than the excited pup people might walk by. I also have the goal of sharing about dog’s different health issues and what can be done to help them. Each of these things inspire my creative journey with photos and videos and education content.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I made a very large career pivot and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. From working as an attorney to now working in social media and event planning for The Mutt Dog, a company that supports dog shelters in various ways. I wanted to be an attorney because I wanted to make a difference. I was always asked, “why did you go to law school” or “why do you want to be a lawyer”, and it was always the same answer, ” I want to help”. Once I learned how naïve I had been, reality struck a really hard chord with me. There were so many restrictions and limitations, so many times I was told “no”, when I offered to take on extra work for a client, or when I felt the charges weren’t appropriate. It really brought me down, and I felt helpless. I took on a higher paying job at a big law firm, and it was every young lawyers dream. My family was proud, my friends were proud, but something didn’t feel right. It felt like I was living someone else’s dream and I felt like an imposter. It was a really tough decision to leave, and I was embarrassed and felt like a failure. My family and friends supported me, but I didn’t feel supported because I didn’t support myself. Learning how to do so took some time. It was the beginning of the pandemic, and I felt so alone. Jobless, stuck inside, and nowhere to hide my feelings except the mirror staring back at me. Then came my dog Baxter. He changed my entire perspective on life and how to live it. He taught me about other dogs, about other people and different things. When he was diagnosed with his plethora of health issues, did it stop him? Of course not. And I wasn’t going to let anything stop me either. We moved across the country, and I changed professions, and now we are happier than ever. I feel like he knows that we are helping the foster dogs that come through. He teaches them how to be a dog, and I teach them how to love. Together, it genuinely feels like we are making the difference now that I always wanted to make.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.baxtersmountain.com
• Instagram: @baxtersmountain
• Other: Tiktok: @baxtersmountain

Image Credits
I took all of these photos myself – there is one where Sploot Vet is in a photo, they sponsored a Rescue Dog Walk, but I took the photos.