Fungi Identification

Hi there, I live outside of Asheville, North Carolina in a tiny place called Alexander. We grow Shiitake mushrooms and just inoculated logs with Lion's Mane and Hen of the Woods which I am very excited about. Walking around our property yesterday I came across this large fungi growing and was wondering if anyone could identify it? There is another one I found this morning, smaller growing about a foot away from the large one. Thank you! I appreciate any help you can offer. Don't want to let it continue to grow where it is if it is poisonous because of my pup. Katherine

Might be this one:

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Fungi/Black_Trumpet.html

Meripilus sumstinei Is my first guess



Picture from  Here

I agree with skandi. It used to be considered a subspecies of maitake but now has it's own name.

Wow! Ya'll are fast. Thank you. I will try to find someone local now to make sure before we try to use it. That would be awesome. Will research. Thanks Again, Katherine

Are you my neighbor Katherine? with Anthony?    
neighbor Dan