Say hello to Heber Valley’s very own hound-dog musical trio—Remy, Dodge, and Derby—howling in unison with the voice only a mother could love. When meeting these three, it was very clear to me that their owner, Lauren, has a type. The bay of a hound is unlike any other noise in the world of dogs. Its theatrics include a head thrown to the sky, eyes slammed shut, and a howl with so much soul that front paws lift from the ground.
(Photography by Lexie Larson, Take a Hike Photography)
Remy, Dodge, and Derby like to host concerts often, encore after encore. It was during Covid when Lauren started her family. Uncertain of Remy’s background, Lauren went all the way to South Carolina and discovered that Remy may have come from a county where hunting dogs were prominent and sought-after. Remy—with his lazy eye, bow legs, and overbite—was not up to par. However, in Lauren’s eyes, he couldn’t be more perfect.
(Photography by Lexie Larson, Take a Hike Photography)
“This dog doesn’t know how to be a dog, and so I thought, ‘How can I help him do that?’” Lauren tells me. So she rescued a puppy named Dodge, who was the perfect teacher, helping Remy gain more confidence. Finally came Derby, “The Great Equalizer,” a foster “fail” that brought balance between her two brothers.
“Three is one-and-a-half too many,” Lauren says, laughing. “You can never be outnumbered by the amount of hands you have in your household.” Each of these hounds has found the best life. Was it by chance or by destiny? They may have Lauren outnumbered, but between you and me, I don’t think she minds one bit.
