10/24/2026
Meet Brian Dawson and his copilot, Jade. 🐾🛶
Before we follow their Mississippi River adventure, you should know a little about the partnership at the heart of it.
Brian’s son brought Jade home as a puppy. Army service, overseas deployments, and later a demanding construction career meant Brian became her everyday caretaker.
“I think it’s basically accepted that she’s my dog,” Brian says. “If you ask her, I’ve always been her human.”
Their bond was tested early. At about three months old, Jade was in a vehicle rollover on a January morning. First responders couldn’t find her. When Brian learned what happened, he went straight to the crash site.
In the fresh snow, he found four little paw prints leading away. About a quarter mile later, he found Jade caught in a metal fence, hanging and whimpering. Thankfully, she was uninjured. Even now, telling that story brings tears to his eyes.
Since about 2018, they’ve been paddling together, beginning with mushroom-hunting trips at Lake Red Rock. Jade joined his 2021 Source to Sea attempt and his successful 2024 journey.
On sandbars, she’s often the main attraction. Children line up to throw sticks and Frisbees, and Brian says the younger the child, the gentler Jade becomes.
As they prepare for another adventure, much of Brian’s planning revolves around her: extra sleeping pads, dry bedding, an improvised drainage system in the canoe, and hand signals they’ve been practicing for safety.
Every good captain needs a copilot. Jade would probably tell you every good dog needs a properly trained human. ❤️
This next adventure also comes with a mission close to our hearts: Brian and Jade will be raising money for Almost Home Animal Rescue along the way, helping more animals find the safety, care, and love every pet deserves.
Follow along as we share their journey from source to sea!
