Scott Rice of RicePak Racing Siberians in Columbus, Ohio has 9 Siberian Husky sled dogs who need to be placed by August 29th. There is no way around this situation, we just need to get the dogs into either new homes or foster homes. If acquired directly from Scott, there will be no adoption fee. Nancy Wolfe from Northwest Ohio Siberian Rescue is organizing this rescue.
If you are interested in any of the dogs, please contact the Scott, Nancy and myself so that all potential lists (including this website) can be kept as up to date as possible regarding what dogs still need help. If you click here, it will automatically generate an e-mail to the three of us at once. If you use a browser-based e-mail system, like GMail, then you can simply copy/paste our e-mail addresses:
Scott: sarice35@hotmail.com
Nancy: wolfepak53@windstream.net
Ashley: ashley@lakotasong.com
Below is the information that is currently known. There will be spay/neuter statuses and photos following shortly. Please check back.
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Goblin - ADOPTED
Male – 5 Years Old – 63 Pounds
Goblin is a “very tall” sled dog who runs wheel.
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Boo Bear - ADOPTED
Male – 5 Years Old – 58 Pounds
Boo Bear is a “big and tall” sled dog who runs wheel.
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Casper – ADOPTED
Male – 5 Years Old – 57 Pounds
Casper is a “big and tall” sled dog who runs wheel.
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Snowball – ADOPTED
Intact Female – Yearling – 38 Pounds
Snowball is a “thin and tall” sled dog who has not been run in a team yet.
Snowball
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Sunshine – ADOPTED
Intact Female – Yearling – 42 Pounds
Sunshine is a “tall” sled dog who has not been run in a team yet.
As the 37 sled dogs from the Lachute rescue get placed into foster care and adopted out, as many as possible will be featured on this page with stories from their foster parents. So make sure to stay tuned and check back often as this page gets updated with more and more heartwarming success stories as these beautiful sled dogs get a second chance at a real life – without chains!
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AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
Photos by Eleven Eleven Rescue - Kuma's Foster.
Kuma is approximately 4 years old and weighed in at 45 pounds upon entering rescue. She is being fostered by Eleven Eleven Rescue and will be spayed prior to placement. If you would like more information and photos, please visit Kuma’s Rescue Page. If you are interested in adopting her, please visit the Adoption Policies page. Below is a note from Kuma’s foster family.
Kuma relaxing with a friend in foster care!
From Kuma’s Foster Family: She’s one of the huskies we rescued this weekend and I think possibly the sweetest dog ever. She doesn’t bark, doesn’t chew, ignores the cats entirely and gets along fine with my dogs. She doesn’t climb furniture, which I’m sure is a bit foreign to her. However, she did try to climb the low table in the yard. Leash walking is new, so she weaves – a lot. But she’s light and the pulling is not terrible. She’s very submissive and doesn’t eat very much, but this morning she was happy enough to wag her tail, which was great because she’s not a wagger. If dogs are too rowdy around her, she gets a bit scared and scampers off, but doesn’t cower or hide, so that’s good. She had one accident in the house, but that was my fault, as I’m still learning to read her signals. Otherwise, she pees and poos outside just fine. She’ll make someone an amazing dog! This girl is just too endearing.
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AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
Look at that smile! Photo by Tina, Foster Mom.
Nova is a small, young adult male who is currently being fostered in Oshawa, Ontario. Upon entering rescue, he weighed in at approximately 35 pounds and is estimated to be between 3 and 4 years of age. He will need to be neutered upon placement, and some funding is available to assist with this and offset his adoption fee.
Nova’s foster mom, Tina has written up a little information about his first few days in foster care – provided below. If you have any other questions or are interested in adopting Nova, you can e-mail Tina at t.pricek81@yahoo.ca
Nova after his bath & blow-dry! Photo by Melissa Van Grootel, a groomer who donated her services.
From Tina: The morning after we brought him home, we decided to weigh him since he was so boney – he weighed in at 34.6 pounds. He is now happily using stairs and my dog Mieke’s ramp, which he was terrified of when he first encountered it. He is slowly adjusting to the whole concept of being crated, but does still like to howl sometimes when he is in it and he is still working on housebreaking. He saw our cat for the first time the other day and made a little noise, but didn’t seem to care that he was there after a minute or two. However, Tyo (the cat) kept his distance thereafter. Nova is a very sweet boy who just needs time and patience to adjust. He recently had his first grooming, courtesy of Melissa at And Puppy Dog Tails grooming salon, and he was very good there – I was very proud of him!
Nova at his foster home with a new friend!
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BOTH ADOPTED
Blue & Corona were fostered by 'Carmen Buhler Ferrara.
Blue and Corona entered foster care together and were adopted within a week by separate families.
Their foster mom, ‘Carmen said both girls were shy, but very sweet and that even in the short time they spent with her, they were beginning to trust.
Thank you ‘Carmen for taking care of these two beautiful souls and helping them find their way into their new homes!
Now for some updated photos of Corona and Blue in their new homes!
Corona with her new guardian!
Corona at home.
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ADOPTED
All photos by Melissa - Bandit's Foster Mom.
The following narratives are directly from
Bandit’s foster mom, Melissa Brethour:
Bandit was one of the worst cases in Lachute. When we did the rounds and pet and fed some the dogs, you could tell he was shutting down. He was so scared. He was one of the the first dogs to come off the chain because we were so concerned about him. When we put him in our car, he shut down right away and did not budge. You could tell he was exhausted from his life on a chain, and he lay in the back seat with his head between the two front seats. You could tell that he knew we were there to help and that he wanted affection, he just didn’t know how to ask for it, or how to accept it.
He clearly prefers a bed to the forest floor!
When we would approach him with petting or any sudden movements, he would flinch. It was heartbreaking to know that a dog so loving as him had most likely never been given the opportunity to really connect to someone. When we took him home, he was almost paralyzed in place, not changing position for almost an entire day. He had no knowledge of a leash, a walk, or stairs, and from what it seemed, human affection. We had to lift him down the stairs and have him follow the lead of our super friendly border collie when going for a walk. When we took him out, it was as if he was perfectly housebroken! He seemed to just know, and in the 3 days we had him, we never had an accident. He walked excellently on the leash considering he had been chained to a tree for almost a year.
Bandit and his foster role model!
When we got to the park just around the corner, we saw three tail wags out of him! It really warmed our hearts. We ended up finding him a home through one of the volunteers who was with us the day of the rescue, and we believe they are the perfect match. His owner is very calm, patient and willing to take the time to really get to know this dog who has been through so much.
To date, no findings related to the Whistler case have been released, except for the fact that the forensic specialists have only been able to locate approximately half of the dogs’ bodies in the mass grave. As they continue to search for the rest of the decaying bodies, the evidence already collected is being prepared for submission to the Crown Counsel. According to the BCSPCA, all findings will be submitted, collectively, before the end of August. Hopefully, as we enter September, we will be doing so with a sense of justice – knowing that the people and the sports industry responsible for the deaths of these innocent, sentient creatures are finally being held accountable.
A Surviving Whistler Sled Dog - Photo Credit: The Canadian Press
Thirty-seven sled dogs were recently found chained to trees in Lachute, Quebec with no dog houses or shelter of any kind. These dogs have reportedly been living this way for nearly a year (since September 2010). They were only sparingly offered water, as they reportedly chewed on their bowls and destroyed them out of sheer boredom. Many of the dogs are now emaciated and have a variety of health problems, such as this female with a possibly cancerous lump one her hind end:
Neglected female sled dog with growth.
Five of these dogs were taken into private foster care, and their stories will be worked into this blog as I gain more information. The remaining thirty-two are now in the care of the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle, the same organization which led the rescue of 97 sled dogs almost two years ago from Mount Tremblant. To read my coverage of that story and the adoption work that followed, check out the following three blog entries: 97 Abused Sled Dogs Rescued in Canada, Where Are They Now?, and The Story Continues, One Dog at a Time.
Below are photos of some of the dogs in the care of the SPCA:
Where the dogs were found - chained without shelter, food or water.
Many of the dogs were emaciated, having been neglected for an extended period of time.
It took a lot of neglect for this dog to reach this condition and it will take months of rehabilitation to heal.
There is hope for a new life in the eyes of the innocent.
All photos are courtesy of SPCA Laurentides-Labelle.
Donations for the care of the dogs in possession of the SPCA can be made by phone at 819-326-4059 and online at SPCALL. The rescue’s charity number, duly registered with the government, is 89570 9145 RR0001. On their website, there is an easy PayPal option in the upper left of the homepage.
To learn how this rescue finally occurred due to the efforts of smaller, privately operated rescue organizations and how the government in Quebec fell short in its animal protection duties once again, please visit the Montreal Dog Blog.
Peter Northcutt of Nicaya Kennels is currently pleading not guilty after shooting 55 of his 65 sled dogs where they stood on their chains at his kennel in late July.
One of the surviving dogs. Photo by 8KPAX.
One of the surviving dogs. Photo by Q2KTVQ.
The affidavit states that Northcutt reportedly pointed a shotgun at Sgt. Schmalz and warned him, “you don’t want any part of this, get out of here.” Sgt. Schmalz got back into his vehicle, backed up 400 yards, and called for backup. When the backup officer arrived, Northcutt is said to have shot at the deputies two times. The deputies were not injured and did not return fire.
According to the affidavit, during the standoff, Northcutt could be seen walking in the dog kennels on his property, where he is said to have shot approximately 55 of his dogs. After he shot the dogs he moved their bodies into star type formations and patterns.10 dogs were left alive.
The standoff lasted several hours. The court documents state after the dogs were killed the defendant laid down among the formation and became unresponsive.
The above quote was taken from the Pet-Abuse.com case file for this incident, which can be followed here.
The remaining ten Siberian Husky sled dogs have since found new homes, though where has not been disclosed.
Peter Northcutt was an active member of the professional mushing community and has competed in such races as Race To The Sky and was training for and planning to enter the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race – one of the world’s cruelest and most dangerous sled dog races.
Below are a few photos from the Nicaya website of the racing Siberian Husky sled dogs who lost their lives at the hands of their cruel musher. May they rest in peace.
The photo above was created by someone on Facebook and quickly spread throughout the online community. If someone would like to take credit for it, feel free to contact me and I will gladly list you as the creator.
If you’ve been anywhere near a computer in the last two months, you’ve likely been made aware of the brutal execution of 100 sled dogs at a touring kennel in Whistler, BC Canada. Bob Fawcett, a man who I actually met some years ago on the racing circuit, killed these dogs in plain sight of their teammates. Methods of execution included gunshot and knifing. Below are excerpts from the documentation he submitted to WorkSafe BC:
As a result of the panic, mid-way through April 21st, he wounded by did not kill one dog, “Suzie.” Suzie was the mother of his family’s pet dog, “Bumble.” He had to chase Suzie through the yard because the horrific noise she made when wounded caused him to drop the leash. Although she had the left side of her cheek blown off and her eye hanging out, he was unable to catch her. He then obtained a gun with a scope and used it to shoot her when she settled down close to another group of dogs… After disposing of Suzie’s body, he noticed that another dog, “Poker,” was injured. He realized that when he shot Suzie, the bullet passed through and injured Poker. Poker was covered in blood from a neck wound and covered in his own feces. He believed that Poker suffered for approximately 15 minutes before he could be put down.
Part of the kennel at Whistler. Photo Credit: BCSPCA
On April 21, 2010, he put down approximately 55 dogs. As he neared the end of the cull that day, the dogs were so panicked they were biting him… He also had to perform what he described as “execution style” killings where he wrestled the dogs to the ground and stood on them with one foot to shoot them. The last few kills were“multiple-shot” killings as he was simply unable to get a clean shot. He described a guttural sound he had never heard before from the dogs and fear in their eyes… The incidents on April 23, 1020, were worse than those on April 21, 2010… The fear and anxiety in the herd began almost immediately. Many of the killings were multiple-shot-execution-style and it took a great amount of time and wrestling to get the dogs in a position to be put down… He noticed that a female, “Nora,” who had been shot approxiamtely 20 minute before, was crawling around in the mass grave he had dug for the animals. He had to climb down into the grave amidst the 10 or so bodies already there, and put her out of her misery… Shortly thereafter, he grazed an uncooperative male, taking off part of his head. The dog bolted and the worker realized he was out of ammunition. When he went to get more, he was attacked by the dog and had to kill the dog with his knife, by slitting its throat while the dog was on top of him.
Part of the kennel at Whistler. Photo Credit: Vancouver Sun
While the slaughter and disposal of sled dogs who are no longer “of use” is not an unusual occurrence in the mushing industry, the story of The Whistler 100 stands out for a variety of reasons:
The sheer number of dogs involved (100) instantly moved this case to the forefront of the media.
The fact that the employee who committed these horrific acts filed a worker’s compensation report, attempting to distance himself and even gain a reward for his actions, gave this case an interesting legal twist.
The actual report, which contains extremely graphic descriptions of how he killed the dogs, was made public and quickly circulated through social media. If you would like to view it, you may do so by clicking here. Please be aware that what is depicted is graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Another important factor that drew worldwide attention is that Bob Fawcett (the man who brutally killed these dogs) was a well-known and very accomplished member of the mushing community and an influential member of Mush With PRIDE – the industry’s self-proclaimed sled dog welfare group. PRIDE promptly contacted the media and made a public statement that Bob was to be immediately removed from any and all positions within the organization in a frantic attempt to distance themselves and make it look like this practice is not a regular part of sled dog sports.
Since this horrific ordeal hit mainstream media, the mushing community as a collective whole has been rushing to “cover their butts.” Arguably the most popular sled dog site on the internet, Sled Dog Central has forbid its members from discussing the Whistler case on its forums. The site administrators have also kept any mention of this case at all from its vast website, including any discussion of how inquiring patrons could donate to other sled dogs in need or assist the dogs remaining at the Whistler compound. You’d think that if the mushing community was really as outraged as they claim, that they would take a proactive approach and utilize their sport’s most visited website to make a positive change.
Though the loss of these 100 sled dogs is tragic, hopefully they will not have died in vain. If you’re like me and want to see some serious change in sled dog sports that will provide greater protection for sled dogs and enact detailed regulations for mushers, stay tuned for news from the Sled Dog Task Force later this month. An extensive report created by the task force over the past two months is expected to be delivered to the Canadian Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz, on March 25th.
“At 21:20 AST Race Marshall Hans Oettli stated that Geronimo, a dog on Hugh Neff’s team, had expired. The Race Officials and Race Veterinarians were present when Hugh Neff and his team arrived into Mile 101. Head Veterinarian Al Hallman said a necropsy will be conducted.”
“Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race Head Vet Allan Hallman this evening announced the results of the necropsy completed by Dr. Christine Christensen, Veterinary Pathologist on the deceased dog Geronimo, belonging to Hugh Neff.
The necropsy revealed no trauma or abuse. The results show that Geronimo had an aspiration of stomach contents go into his lungs, the official terminology being Aspiration Asphyxia. A histopathological examination of tissue will be completed with results available in two to four weeks,” stated Hallman. Race Marshall Hans Oettli has been informed and officially accepted the results presented by the veterinary team.”
“A dog from veteran Yukon Quest musher Brent Sass’s team died Saturday.
Sass came into the Slaven’s Roadhouse dog drop at 7:20 p.m. carrying the dead dog in his sled bag.
All that Quest Head Veterinarian Alan Hallman knew was that the death was sudden. The name of the dog was not known.
The official cause of death won’t be known until a necropsy is performed. Those results may take a while.
“Sometimes it’s obvious, like aspiration pneumonia,” Hallman said. “But it appears at this point it was just a sudden death.”
Race Marshal Hans Oettli said race officials wouldn’t make a decision on Sass’s race status until the results of the necropsy.
The rules state that a musher can be disqualified for a dog death; however, it is a rare occurrence. A race official said that Sass is known for his good dog care and that there is no intention to remove him from the race.
Sass left Slaven’s Roadhouse at 4:16 a.m. Sunday, heading to Circle.
Officials did not know whether Sass would continue to race or not.”
This is just a short update to let everyone know that I am working on a larger entry to collaborate all of the findings to date on this case. I am also looking for photographs of dogs at this kennel – if you have any that you would like to submit, feel free to send them to ashley@lakotasong.com and provide a source credit. At the current time, if anyone would like to read the actual scanned PDF file of the report made by Robert Fawcett to authorities, which depicts the gruesome acts he committed against these dogs as he killed them, you may read it here:
PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION: Some viewers may find the above linked text to be very disturbing.
It is important to note that the sled dog community is in a dead panic as a result of this situation reaching the media and the very specifics of how the dogs were slaughtered coming to light. These acts were committed by one of their own, a long-respected and active member of the mushing community who was also the Vice President of their most prestigious ”welfare organization” up until the situation became public. Mass graves of slaughtered sled dogs are nothing new – they’re one of the mushing community’s dirty little secrets. Dogs being shot in front of other dogs is a normal and accepted activity in this sport. It is time for our local, state and federal governments to step up and take a stand for sled dogs as a whole. It is timefor the world to step up and speak out for these creatures who have been an accepted casualty for decades in the name of “sport.” Let’s work together to change laws and put people who profit at the expense of these dogs out of business once and for all.
One dog has died so far during the 2010 Iditarod season – “Lava” died in the team of seventeen-year-old Jeff Holt during the 2010 Junior Iditarod. He reportedly died from a gastric ulcer, which is a common occurrence in overworked racing sled dogs.
Due to the amount of negative publicity the race received last year due to the numerous dog deaths, and the sponsors lost, I honestly doubt that any deaths occurring in the full-length Iditarod this year will be reported.
The Iditarod press releases have already been delayed up to three days before being released, and full disclosure has not been provided regarding the lost dog, Whitey. According to the musher’s wife on their kennel blog, the dog was found on Sunday, March 14th after being lost for four days. The musher was forced to scratch by race officials two days after Whitey remained missing. It is disheartening that the musher did not scratch right when his dog was lost to look for him, and that officials did not require him to scratch immediately.
Snowmass Village police are investigating a report of animal cruelty at Krabloonik, the embattled commercial dogsledding operation at the resort.
A former employee of Krabloonik gave a statement to police Monday regarding an incident of alleged cruelty, police Sgt. Brian Olson confirmed.
The police department intends to interview other individuals at Krabloonik who may have witnessed the alleged incident, Olson said.
“We’re looking for anyone who can corroborate what he witnessed,” the sergeant said. The investigation may take a week or two, he said.
Eric Glukowsky said he watched Krabloonik owner Dan MacEachen mistreat a dog on Nov. 1 after the animal snapped at MacEachen’s young grandson. The child was not hurt, according to Glukowsky, who contacted The Aspen Times. MacEachen did not return a telephone message left at his business Wednesday.
MacEachen punched the dog, yanked its chain as if to choke it, and threw a piece of pipe at it multiple times, striking it perhaps twice, Glukowsky said.
“I thought he was going to break its neck,” Glukowski said. “He also said he was going to put a bullet through [the dog's] head.”
The dog was not killed, he added.
Glukowski said several employees witnessed the incident but that only he finally objected. Others feared losing their jobs, he said.
“He [MacEachen] pretty much said, ‘If you don’t like it, get the hell out,’” Glukowski said.
Glukowski, 29, said he was hired as a musher at Krabloonik, which offers commercial dogsled rides, and that it was to be his first season there. He lost his job Sunday, he said, after he received a speeding ticket that Glukowsky contends was used as an excuse to fire him because he confronted MacEachen during the alleged incident. He went to police the following day.
Sgt. Olson said Glukowski’s statement to police will not be made public while the investigation is ongoing.
The Krabloonik operation has come under fire repeatedly over the years. A public outcry about the conditions in which the dogs were kept led to upgrades to the dog kennels and clean-up of the area, and an agreement to limit the number of dogs at the site.
The Snowmass Village Town Council declined to enact sanctions against the operation last August, citing the positive changes at the facility.
As someone like Lance Mackey supports use of illegal drugs (not just for medical purposes), this is an even greater reason to not utilize the cruel Iditarod for teaching in any school system. We are sending our nation’s children the message that not only is animal abuse okay in the name of sport, but drug use as well!
The Iditarod plans to test mushers for drugs and alcohol in March, a change many mushers have no problem with — but one that three-time champion Lance Mackey scoffs at.
“I think it’s a little bit ridiculous,” Mackey said Wednesday night from his home near Fairbanks after a training run. “It is a dog race, not a human race. It (using a drug) doesn’t affect the outcome of the race.”
Mackey, a throat cancer survivor who has a medical marijuana card, admits to using marijuana on the trail and thinks his success has made some of his competitors jealous.
“It isn’t the reason I’ve won three years in a row,” said Mackey, though he concedes marijuana helps him stay awake and focused during the 1,100-mile race that takes winners nearly 10 days to complete.
Now Mackey will have to change his ways or risk disqualification. Drug testing will be a part of next year’s race, said Stan Hooley, executive director of the Iditarod Trail Committee, although officials hav en’t yet decided who will get tested or when or where.
“It might be random. It might be a group of mushers at a specific checkpoint,” he said.
Aaron Burmeister, a member of the Iditarod’s board of directors, said the Iditarod Official Finishers’ Club has requested for years that mushers be drug tested.
“It’s time,” said Burmeister, a 12-time finisher from Nenana.
The Iditarod has had a drug and alcohol policy since 1984, Hooley said. But he called it “fairly informal” and said to his knowledge mushers have never been tested. The Iditarod finally will enforce the rule for the 2010 race, he said.
Mackey says the issue of mushers smoking on the trail is irrelevant because it hasn’t affected anyone’s race.
Furthermore, he said, what he does in his time is his business.
“The Alaska lifestyle, you can do just about anything you want if you’re not bothering anybody,” he said. “You have a little more freedom in this state and smoking pot is kind of a common thing here in Alaska.”
Mackey doesn’t blame the Iditarod board for creating the new policy at the behest of the Finishers’ Club. Instead, he contends he is being targeted by other mushers jealous of his three straight Iditarod titles and the four Quest titles he won from 2005-08.
Samuel and Diane Walker, owners of the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog Kennel near Hartsel, turned themselves in on Christmas Day in connection with allegations of animal cruelty.
An arrest warrant was issued for the couple on Dec. 23. After their arrest at the Park County Jail in Fairplay, they posted $2,000 in bail and were released.
Their next court appearance is 9 a.m. Jan. 4.
The couple have been charged with two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor.
Samuel and Diane Walker, owners of the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog Kennel near Hartsel, turned themselves in on Christmas Day in connection with allegations of animal cruelty.
An arrest warrant was issued for the couple on Dec. 23. After their arrest at the Park County Jail in Fairplay, they posted $2,000 in bail and were released.
Their next court appearance is 9 a.m. Jan. 4.
The couple have been charged with two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor.
A necropsy on two female huskies found one died from starvation and complications of pneumonia, and the other died from “bloat” or “twisted gut,” which happens when an animal is given a large amount of food after being deprived of food over time.
Nine of the 10 sled dogs that kept going when their musher fell off near Willow survived two days of tangles, fights and hunger while trapped together on their gangline before being rescued Wednesday afternoon.
The dogs were found in a tangled mess of lines, anchored in place after the snow hook from their sled lodged in the snow about 10 miles from where the dogs escaped east of the Parks Highway, said Erin McLarnon, president of the Willow Dog Mushers Association, which coordinated the search efforts looking for the dogs.
One dog, Tappy, was dead, apparently strangled in the mess of harnesses, said Ted English, the veteran musher who owns the team and who had loaned it to another musher.
“Almost everybody had some type of bite wound on them, and a couple of them had already formed some abscesses, but nothing that’s life-threatening,” McLarnon said.
The dogs got loose about 3:45 p.m. Monday, when Jan Stevens, a 53-year-old from Edmonds, Wash., training for a possible run in the Iditarod with a team from English’s kennel, was knocked off the sled.
Romano Loop along Haessler-Norris Trail is a technically challenging run, and there is not a lot of snow there now, McLarnon said.
Stevens, who’s been mushing for about three years, said she had been going down a hill in the woods when every musher’s nightmare became reality. She hit a tree on her right and was thrown to the left. The sled stayed upright and the dogs kept on going.
“I’ve dumped sleds in the past, I’ve been dragged, but I’ve always managed to hang on to the sled,” Stevens said. “I think it was just the impact on the tree that I was just kind of tossed from the sled. And I got to watch them go around the lake below me, and it was a beautiful sight. It was also a very sickening sight.”
Stevens started walking back and called English on a cell phone. He rushed out to the area on a snowmachine, but they couldn’t find the team.
“The dogs ran out and we missed them somewheres,” English said. “Somebody gets on the trail for the last two or three years out there on that trail with a four-wheeler, and they really tear that trail up, so we had a heck of a time.”
A ground search involving 25 or more volunteers escalated late into Monday night and resumed again Tuesday. By mid-afternoon searchers, confronted with up to 100 miles of trail to cover and no sightings of the team, began thinking they would need air support, McLarnon said. A helicopter took to the sky late Wednesday morning to began a systemic search of the area with McLarnon aboard.
With Hatcher Pass Road to the north, the Parks Highway to the west and Deception Creek to the east, the helicopter began scouring the area for any sign of the dogs. About noon, after just 45 minutes in the air, McLarnon spotted the dogs out of the corner of her eye after the chopper had run eight or nine patterns.
The dogs were beyond a barricade on the trail marking some private property — an area passed by but not covered in the ground search because the barricade was unmoved — and probably just about three-quarters of a mile as the crow flies from McLarnon’s home, McLarnon said.
“When I got the phone call that she found the team, I just burst into tears,” Stevens said. “I was elated. And then she told me of Tappy’s fate, and it was heartbreaking.”
The chopper set down and searchers found most of the dogs doing well. It appeared the team ran straight to that spot before the hook set into the snow, lodging them in place, and that they spent almost all of their 44-hour ordeal in that location, McLarnon said. The sled somehow managed to stay upright the whole time.
At first, the dogs were still straight on the gangline, evidenced by holes melted in the snow where they slept. But the line soon devolved into the chaos McLarnon found as she approached.
“When I got to them it was just a tangled mess,” she said. “You could tell that there had been a little scuffle at some point.”
McLarnon called her husband, and, along with the pilot, began freeing the dogs, cutting some of the most tangled lines. They put the dogs on a stakeout line as English and Stevens headed out to the area, she said.
“Jan snowmachined in and, believe it or not, we put a gangline onto the snowmachine, hooked all the dogs up and the dogs pulled home,” McLarnon said. “They could have ran
another 50 miles, I think. They were just so happy.”The
The carelessness of both the legal guardian of the team, and that of the rookie musher who was running the team, has led to several injured dogs and one needless death...
Nine of the 10 sled dogs that kept going when their musher fell off near Willow survived two days of tangles, fights and hunger while trapped together on their gangline before being rescued Wednesday afternoon.
The dogs were found in a tangled mess of lines, anchored in place after the snow hook from their sled lodged in the snow about 10 miles from where the dogs escaped east of the Parks Highway, said Erin McLarnon, president of the Willow Dog Mushers Association, which coordinated the search efforts looking for the dogs.
One dog, Tappy, was dead,apparently strangled in the mess of harnesses, said Ted English, the veteran musher who owns the team and who had loaned it to another musher.
“Almost everybody had some type of bite wound on them, and a couple of them had already formed some abscesses, but nothing that’s life-threatening,” McLarnon said.
The dogs got loose about 3:45 p.m. Monday, when Jan Stevens, a 53-year-old from Edmonds, Wash., training for a possible run in the Iditarod with a team from English’s kennel, was knocked off the sled.
Romano Loop along Haessler-Norris Trail is a technically challenging run, and there is not a lot of snow there now, McLarnon said.
Stevens, who’s been mushing for about three years, said she had been going down a hill in the woods when every musher’s nightmare became reality. She hit a tree on her right and was thrown to the left. The sled stayed upright and the dogs kept on going.
“I’ve dumped sleds in the past, I’ve been dragged, but I’ve always managed to hang on to the sled,” Stevens said. “I think it was just the impact on the tree that I was just kind of tossed from the sled. And I got to watch them go around the lake below me, and it was a beautiful sight. It was also a very sickening sight.”
Stevens started walking back and called English on a cell phone. He rushed out to the area on a snowmachine, but they couldn’t find the team.
“The dogs ran out and we missed them somewheres,” English said. “Somebody gets on the trail for the last two or three years out there on that trail with a four-wheeler, and they really tear that trail up, so we had a heck of a time.”
A ground search involving 25 or more volunteers escalated late into Monday night and resumed again Tuesday. By mid-afternoon searchers, confronted with up to 100 miles of trail to cover and no sightings of the team, began thinking they would need air support, McLarnon said. A helicopter took to the sky late Wednesday morning to began a systemic search of the area with McLarnon aboard.
With Hatcher Pass Road to the north, the Parks Highway to the west and Deception Creek to the east, the helicopter began scouring the area for any sign of the dogs. About noon, after just 45 minutes in the air, McLarnon spotted the dogs out of the corner of her eye after the chopper had run eight or nine patterns.
The dogs were beyond a barricade on the trail marking some private property — an area passed by but not covered in the ground search because the barricade was unmoved — and probably just about three-quarters of a mile as the crow flies from McLarnon’s home, McLarnon said.
“When I got the phone call that she found the team, I just burst into tears,” Stevens said. “I was elated. And then she told me of Tappy’s fate, and it was heartbreaking.”
The chopper set down and searchers found most of the dogs doing well. It appeared the team ran straight to that spot before the hook set into the snow, lodging them in place, and that they spent almost all of their 44-hour ordeal in that location, McLarnon said. The sled somehow managed to stay upright the whole time.
At first, the dogs were still straight on the gangline, evidenced by holes melted in the snow where they slept. But the line soon devolved into the chaos McLarnon found as she approached.
“When I got to them it was just a tangled mess,” she said. “You could tell that there had been a little scuffle at some point.”
McLarnon called her husband, and, along with the pilot, began freeing the dogs, cutting some of the most tangled lines. They put the dogs on a stakeout line as English and Stevens headed out to the area, she said.
“Jan snowmachined in and, believe it or not, we put a gangline onto the snowmachine, hooked all the dogs up and the dogs pulled home,” McLarnon said. “They could have ran another 50 miles, I think. They were just so happy.”
The following statement is from the Humane Society of the United States:
The Humane Society of the United States commends the Park County Sheriff’s Office for seizing nearly 100 sled dogs from a state-licensed dog-sledding facility due to the animals’ alleged neglect. After receiving a tip that dogs there were living in deplorable conditions, The HSUS called the sheriff’s department, which quickly took action to help the animals.
The case is the most recent action law enforcement in Colorado has taken in response to a sled-dog facility accused of inadequate care. It came only weeks after Snowmass Village police confirmed that they are investigating allegations of animal cruelty at Krabloonik, a state-licensed dog-sledding operation, whose owner has been arrested on animal cruelty charges in the past.
These cases are only two examples of a larger regulatory problem in Colorado, and The Humane Society of the United States calls on the Colorado Department of Agriculture to strengthen oversight and enforcement of these operations. Sled-dog operations are covered under the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act and are regulated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Both facilities, in Park County and Snowmass Village, are PACFA licensed.
“Park County police took immediate action to relieve the suffering of these dogs. We applaud their commitment to protecting animals and hope the state will follow suit,” said Holly Tarry, The HSUS’ Colorado state director. “We ask the Colorado Department of Agriculture to step up its regulatory enforcement so punitive action can be taken against those who fail to meet standards. Consistent and timely enforcement of these regulations can prevent the suffering these dogs had to endure.”
The Colorado Department of Agriculture facility files reveal that many sled-dog facilities (including the one in Park County) do not meet the minimum standards required by law, yet the facilities are able to continue in sub-par condition with no corrective action. The owner of the Park County dogs, whom police are investigating, was convicted of cruelty to animals in 2003 after one of his dogs was found with a collar embedded in his neck. After the conviction, the Department of Agriculture, which has the authority to revoke licenses, sent the owner a letter stating that they would not revoke his license.
Both the sled-dog facility owner in Park County and the owner of Krabloonik were previously convicted of animal cruelty, and both have maintained their PACFA license. And, most importantly, both have come to police attention again for allegedly allowing animals to suffer at their facilities. This pattern is unacceptable and presents a clear need for stricter regulatory enforcement of the laws, which are designed to prevent the sort of needless suffering recently exposed in Park County.
“The Park County Sheriff’s Office has seized about 100 starving and neglected sled dogs after finding eight other dogs dead.”
- MSNBC Colorado 9News
Photo Credit: Lewis Geyer
About 100 starving sled dogs have been seized from a racing business in Colorado.
Colorado’s state veterinarian says an anonymous tip led authorities to Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs in the Park County town of Hartsel, about 70 miles southwest of Denver. The facility is owned by Sam and Diane Walker of Florissant.
Authorities say they found six dead husky-type dogs and seized 30 starving dogs immediately. On Thursday, animal protection authorities took the remaining 70 dogs and placed them in shelters around Colorado.
“Some are a little thin, but aside from that, no major concerns noted at this point,” said Dr. Jeff Fankhauer, a veterinarian with the Denver Dumb Friends League.”
Court papers obtained by 11 News show Sam Walker received a state kennel license in 1998. Walker was found guilty of animal cruelty and violating animal ordinances in Teller County in 2003.
At that time, the Walkers kenneled more than 100 dogs at their home in Florissant.
The same year, they were ordered to reduce their number of dogs to 30, and agreed to remove them from their Teller county property.
Dr. Keith Roehr, the state vet, says the dogs were all crossbreeds of Alaskan descent used in sled racing.
Park County sheriff’s officials were investigating the dogs’ owners for possible animal neglect charges, but as of Thursday afternoon no one had been charged.
The dogs are now receiving medical care in state shelters, and may soon be available for a new owner.
“It could take a few weeks to a few months until some of the dogs are ready to be placed for adoption,” said Michelle Ray, a Denver Dumb Friends League spokesperson.
Here is the official release from the Park County Sheriff’s Office:
On Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at approximately 1:45pm Sergeant Bobbi Priestly of Park County Animal Control received a call from the United States Humane Society.
Sergeant Priestly was informed by the United States Humane Society that they had received an anonymous tip that a sled dog facility located near Hartsel, CO, had dogs that were dead and dying from apparent neglect and starvation.
Park County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control responded to 6000 Forest Service Road 108 where they discovered approximately 100 dogs in severely neglected and starving conditions.
During the early morning hours on Wednesday, December the 16th, 2009 Park County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officers executed search warrants at the sled dog facility. Over 100 animals were found in extremely poor physical condition.
Dr. Kate Anderson with the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Protection scored the animals on the Hennekee Body Score System and determined several of the animals scored 1 or less on a scale of 1 to 9. Animal Control Officers and volunteers removed 30 dogs that were rated in the poorest condition and transported the animals to facilities in Colorado Springs, Buena Vista, Salida and Park County.
On December the 17th, 2009 Park County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officers removed the remaining 70 animals and will be placing them in approved facilities throughout the state. Rescue operations are ongoing at this time.
Sam and Diane Walker who reside in Florissant, CO, and whom operated the sled dog facility, could be facing multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect.
Anyone wishing to help can contact The Park County Animal Rescue at PO Box 604, Fairplay, CO 80440.
“Dr. Kate Anderson with the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Protection scored the animals on the Hennekee Body Score System and determined several of the animals scored 1 or less on a scale of 1 to 9.”
- KKTV News
HOW TO HELP
Donate to the organization which initiated the rescue:
Park County Animal Rescue
PO Box 604
Fairplay, CO 80440
Donate to the Leadville Animal Shelter, which has reportedly taken in 10 of these dogs:
Leadville Animal Shelter
800 Harrison Ave
Leadville, CO 80461
Donate to the Arkansas Valley Humane Society in Buena Vista, which reportedly took in 13 dogs. Visit their website to learn how you can donate where they need it most:
I have kept in touch with people that read my original blog article and call for help. Some of them were actually able to adopt some of the Quebec sled dogs. This is the continuing story for two of the dogs who found such a home with a woman named Trish.
“I wanted to take one dog and make sure it was the happiest dog possible.”
Minou was going to be difficult to place since she is thought to be 6 or 7 years old. Yet she came to us with a surprise. When she went to be spayed it turned out that, she was very pregnant but too skinny to tell. I wanted her home to bond with me during her delivery and while she had her puppies. When I met her she was timid but accepting and put her head in my hand for the drive home from the foster. She has a brown eye and a blue one and her thick fur is brownish black on a creamy undercoat. She has been a dream dog, housebroken, inquisitive, and gentle. She fit right in with the 9 month old puppy my daughter has. We have begun installing a 6 foot fence so she can run around without any leash. She loves walks and we go on about 3 a day. Her advanced pregnancy made it a challenge to get on my bed, but she sleeps beside my bed in a crate with no door because she wants to. She had two healthy puppies out of four and is slow to produce milk, but since she was so skinny you couldn’t tell she was pregnant, it is not so shocking. Imagine what would have happened out there among 100 other starving dogs. She has learned to play a little and she gets excited and dances when she sees the leash. She takes treats gently and is happy to learn to sit, lay down, and come. Since she had her puppies I have slept by her side and shown her that I am also a protector and now I wake to kisses and dancing at the door to go outside. Welcome home Minou, you’ll never be hungry, cold or alone again.
Melisse was also going to be difficult to place. Thought to be around 5 years old, she was very timid, didn’t know how to walk on floors, was afraid of stairs, and people. She was exactly what I was hoping for; a dog that needed me. I am selfish that way. Melisse was one of the pregnant dogs that delivered right after being rescued so I have to wait until her puppies are weaned before she comes home. There is no need to flip her life around again while she is nursing. She had some tummy troubles but that is working itself out. She is learning to be more trusting of people and is beginning to understand life in a house. I wish I was the one teaching her these things but I will wait and teach her unconditional love if that is all that’s left to learn. When I met Melisse for the first time she was the skinniest dog I had ever seen in person. Her light silvery coat hung off of her hips and spine like someone draped it there. Her ribs showed as her skin was pulled taught by teats heavy with milk for her puppies. Her spine was no wider than my hand and led from her slightly wagging tail to her narrow face. She looked like a greyhound disguised in a husky’s coat. Then I looked into her brilliant blue eyes and knew she was mine. I squatted down to introduce myself. She immediately gave me a kiss and I murmured softly to her while I scratched under her collar and deep into the fur of her chest. She was timid but brave and I fell in love with her right there in the driveway.
As Minou has learned belly rubs and to fall asleep on her back getting scratched and snuggled, so too will Melisse and we look forward to her filling the space that we have waiting for her in our hearts and home.
I’d like to thank everyone who rescued the dogs we’ve been waiting to love and I’d like to see changes so that the cruelty that brought them here never happens again.
Reportedly, nearly 20 different shelters across North America have taken part in rehabilitating and rehoming the 97 sled dogs rescued from Canada last month (see original article & case photos). On behalf of the sled dog welfare and advocacy community, I would like to extend thanks to all of the organizations that have helped these innocent souls to have a chance at a new life. This list will be updated as I acquire more contacts and pictures. If I’ve left you out, please feel free to contact me with photos and information of how these dogs are doing!
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Thank you to the SPCA of Western Quebec.
The SPCA of Western Quebec is providing shelter to three of the rescued female huskies from the Upper Laurentians in Quebec. If you would like to donate, CLICK HERE to learn how!
Shara has been spayed and is now in a foster home, receiving the love and attention she deserves.
Kiska and Nikea, both pregnant, are in foster homes as well, receiving the care they need in advance of having their pups.
Thank you to the Westminster Pet Sanctuary of Ontario.
Amazing Grace is a two year old husky who came to our sanctuary from a horrific neglect case in Quebec. She needs a lot of help with her medical and emotional needs after surviving such trauma and neglect, but that is what we are here for! She has no fur on her back; sores on her legs; a leg injury and is very underweight.
What we can tell you: Amazing Grace has the most gentle, loving spirit and is truly one of the most grateful dogs – to know that she is loved; to have food (poor girl didn’t even know how to chew); fresh water; a comfy bed of her own; and the best of medical treatments!
If you are interested in donating online, CLICK HERE!
Thanks to the Washington Animal Rescue League of DC.
The Washington Animal Rescue League (the League) is providing refuge to 13 mixed huskies surrendered to Canadian authorities by a man who said he could no longer afford to care for the dogs. Altogether, the man had nearly 100 sled dogs, whom he used to pull sleds for tourists and kept on chains in the woods of Quebec when they weren’t working. Eleven other animal shelters in Canada and the U.S. also took in some of the dogs.
The 13 dogs at the League range in age from 1 to 8 years. One has heartworms (a parasite that inhabits dogs’ heart and is spread through mosquito bites) and many of the dogs are thin or emaciated. The largest challenge that the League faces in rehabilitating these dogs, however, may well be the job of acclimating them to life in civilization.
“These dogs are friendly, but they are not terribly well socialized,” according to Sabine Hentrich, the League’s certified dog trainer and behavior specialist. “As far as we know, except for their dog houses, many have never been inside before they arrived here. The floors, doorways, artificial lights—everything is new to them and a cause for anxiety.”
The dogs are currently being evaluated by the League’s veterinarians and behavior staff. Some may become available for adoption as early as the week of November 30. But given their past lives as outdoor sled dogs, the adoption staff cautions that these dogs are not for everyone.
“Those who are thinking of adopting one of these dogs would do well to spend some time researching huskies and sled dogs,” recommends Mary Jarvis, the League’s chief operating officer. “These dogs are very independent and their need for exercise and their ability to escape can be a challenge to anyone who lives with them.”
For more information on these dogs, please call 202-726-2556 or write to adoptions@warl.org. Also, CLICK HEREto donate online!
Thank you to the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance of Nova Scotia.
Fallon is a sweet boy rescued from Quebec along with approximately 100 other abandoned Siberian Huskies and Husky mixes. Fallon and 31 other dogs were brought down into the United States to go into local rescues. He’s around 5 yrs of age. Fallon is the quietest dog I ever had, not a peep out of him since he came into rescue. He’s being fostered in Philadelphia along with his blind foster brother Connor.
He is a very sweet boy who never stops wagging his tail! He’s very quiet for a Siberian Husky, too!
Fallon gets along with other dogs very well. Fallon is being fostered in the Philadelphia area.
He’s totally blind in his left, and his right eye, he sees shadows.
If you want to donate to Fallon’s care, please send to
BDRA
PO Box 63401
Philadelphia, PA 19114
Fallon is a sweet boy rescued from Quebec along with approximately 100 other abandoned Siberian Huskies and Husky mixes. Fallon and 31 other dogs were brought down into the United States to go into local rescues. He’s around 5 yrs of age. Fallon is the quietest dog I ever had, not a peep out of him since he came into rescue. He’s being fostered in Philadelphia along with his blind foster brother Connor.
He is a very sweet boy who never stops wagging his tail! He’s very quiet for a Siberian Husky, too!
Fallon gets along with other dogs very well. Fallon is being fostered in the Philadelphia area.
He’s totally blind in his left, and his right eye, he sees shadows.
If you want to donate to Fallon’s care, please send to :
Saint and Agatha were named after Sainte Agathe, Quebec, the town where they were rescued. Agatha, one of 30 who were pregnant, and Saint arrived emaciated but are receiving food, water, care and vet treatment at the shelter.
“They’re doing great,” reported Shapiro. “They have a great disposition. They’re not fearful; they’re cautious. They enjoy contact, which isn’t surprising given their background. They show signs of submission, but they’re very friendly. They’re adjusting well.”
When not resting in her private nursery, complete with blanketed kiddy pool, Agatha and her buddy, Saint, are now enjoying simple doggy pleasures.
“They love rolling in the grass,” Shapiro said, “They love laying in the grass.”
After gaining some weight and getting neutered, Saint will be available for adoption by February, “just in time for Valentine’s Day,” Shapiro said.
Agatha and her pups will be available before spring, once the pups are old enough to be spayed or neutered.
For information on adoption, visit www.ucspca.org or call 331-5377. Donations are needed to help with the care of Saint and Agatha and can be sent to:
Thanks to Highland Animal Relief Team & Newf Friends in Ontario.
FROM HIGHLAND ANIMAL RELIEF TEAM:
Say Hello to Hera! This lovely girl is a recent addition to HART’s foster pack. Hera has come a long way from Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., to join us here in Bancroft.
Hera is one of the over 100 sled dogs recently rescued by SPCA Laurentides-Labelle. The SPCA found dogs chained outside without regular access to adequate food, clean water or shelter. There were numerous dead dogs discarded in heaps on site. This tragic story made headlines around the world.
Worse still, 30 of these dogs were pregnant. Hera is expecting her litter any day. Without help, these expectant moms would have given birth in mud pits. The puppies would have surely suffered and died. Thankfully, all the dogs are now safe in foster homes and shelters in Quebec, Ontario and the United States.
We at HART do everything we can to support the good work of other animal rescue groups. We offered to take in Hera to ease the burden of finding placement for so many homeless animals.
Hera arrived at her foster home feeling tired, and scared. Things have quickly changed. Her blue eyes sparkled when she met her two new canine siblings. She enjoys her warm bed, high-quality food, and gentle human companionship.
Her foster guardians are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Hera’s puppies. Once the puppies are old enough, vet checked and all healthy, they will be placed for adoption. In a few months, Hera will be spayed and then will begin looking for her forever home.
Thank you for reading Hera’s story. Donations to HART to help with her care would be gladly accepted. If you are interested in donating online, CLICK HERE!
FROM NEWF FRIENDS:
Hera, the husky who was rescued along with Hudson from deplorable conditions in Quebec, is in the care of a HART foster home and expected to have her pups any day now. Details about Hera and her pups will be courtesy posted on this site and we will be facilitating her adoption.
We have a long winter ahead of us, and our funds are being depleted rapidly due to extensive veterinary care for dogs that have come through our rescue.
If you are interested in making an online donation, CLICK HERE! (click “Donate Now” and then select “Newf Friends Fund” from the pull-down menu). Also, check out our calendar, which can be purchased through our main site (follow source link below).
We have committed so far to rescue 10 dogs including some pregnant females. The outpour of support has been wonderful and we have several new foster homes to thank for helping to make this happen. We are still in dire need of food donations and blankets as well as any donations towards our inevitable vet costs. Any question regarding the husky situation can be directed to Lisa at 905-713-1531 or email: siberrescueon@gmail.com.
If you are interested in donating, CLICK HERE to learn how!
Thanks to the Bytown Associaton for Rescued Kanines in Ontario.
BARK has helped a group in Ste Agathe who rescued over 100 dogs hidden in the woods outside Ste Agathe PQ.
The HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) were called in to help rescue these poor dogs who were used for sledding and breeding. There were dead dogs all over this property with nearly 100 dogs chained to doghouses including 30 pregnant dogs. The conditions were terrible with the dogs living in and around their dead friends.
The HSUS set up a temporary shelter nearby to house the dogs while they are being examined, vaccinated, heartworm checked, deflead and dewormed. Several rescues including BARK were called to help with the surrendered dogs.
BARK has so far taken 6 dogs including three pregnant ones.
Our single biggest need is money.
If you would like to donate to their upkeep that would be much appreciated. We expect many of these dogs will need ongoing veterinary care before they are ready for permanent homes.
We also need toys, treats, good quality food, rawhides etc.
All of the dogs have great temperaments. They will not be ready for adoption until after Christmas.
If you would like to help or wish to make a donation please call613-738-0119 or 819-776-5090.
If you are interested in donating online, CLICK HERE!
Thank you to Secours Reach For The Stars Rescue in Quebec.
These two beautiful girls are from the recently publicized surrender of near 100 dogs close to Brébeouf, QC. Both came to us in heavily pregnant states. Jadzia now has 8 healthy pups of one week old. She is gentle, sweet and pretty relaxed for a husky. She loves to get attentiona and be lavished with love. Jadzia needs a safe and patient foster home where she can be with her pups until they are ready for adoption at nine weeks old and on through her vetting, vaccinations and spay surgery. This whole prcess can take 4+ months and we are looking for someone who can commit to be there for her through the entire duration. Coralie, has 9 pups who are all doing very well, but until mom feels a bit better and more confident she will be staying where she gave birth. Once that is achieved she too will be in need of a foster home where she can depend on a patient and kind family who can help her through her journey, also to last 4+ month and includes 9 puppies that will be starting to run and play and will need a safe place where they cannot get into too much mischief! For more information please contact us atinfo@reachforthestarsrescue.com (don’t forget to include “surrendered huskies” in the subject line).
We have officially demobilized, leaving our new friends in the capable hands of the Labell-Laurentides SPCA. It was difficult leaving the last few guys there, but I know they will be off to much better lives this weekend.
I keep wondering if this is healthy for me, going from emotion to emotion so quickly on each deployment. First, experiencing the excitement, anxiety, worry and anticipation of a deployment. What condition will the dogs be in? Will we be able to help them all? What are we going to find when we get there?
Then, the whirl of activity as the seizure or rescue takes place and the dogs begin arriving at the shelter when you don’t have time to think. Triaging them, finding those who need immediate care, those who need some care and those who just need a lot of TLC is phase two of the emotional roller coaster. Then the falling in love bit. Getting to know so many of them, their quirks, their personalities. Names emerge, and we begin to accidentally get favorites. Next comes the bittersweet part of sending them off to the next chapter in their lives and saying goodbye. We know things will only get better and better for them, but they blossomed so extraordinarily in our care, it’s hard to not get attached.
Like I always say, if we weren’t getting attached to them, something is wrong with us. Now I’m going through my “post deployment blues.” I’m so grateful for the opportunity to meet with and work with so many wonderful people, even more so for having helped so many dogs along one major step in improving their worlds, but sad to be saying goodbye.
One thought keeps lingering with me. I’ve heard a few comments that since they’re huskies, they don’t mind being out in the cold. Anyone who still thinks that has never given a husky a blanket. We always marvel at how much the little Chihuahuas and Maltese enjoy their blankies for the first time. Try a husky. At first it’s intense interest and curiosity. Touch it with the paw, sniff it, move it with the nose, sniff it, taste it (not so good), sniff it again. Then it usually takes about two minutes for them to get it bunched up and situated to their liking and plop, down they go, not moving again until the next meal time. I have never seen so many simultaneously, sleeping dogs before.
This was obviously yet another different type of deployment for the Emergency Animal Rescue Service. The volunteers proved their extraordinary compassion by doing the big things (walking dogs who were stronger than most of us combined and cleaning lots of poop) and the little things (covering the scared ones with blankets and giving them names). I am so proud to be part of this team, KNOWING we are making such a huge difference for so many animals who couldn’t have done it on their own.
Sled Dog Central recently began hosting the B.A.R.K. program – aka Buy a Round of Kibble. Below is a quote from the SDC site:
The idea for the “Buy A Round of Kibble” program was developed by ardent race fans/volunteers, Lee and Claudia Nowak, who have already contributed several bags of kibble to some of their favorite teams.
Sled Dog Central is pleased to host this list of participating kennels to bring the BARK program to the attention of mushing fans who want to support their favorite team(s) by buying a bag or two of the kennel’s preferred dog food.
The concept is wonderfully simple: participating kennels add the BARK logo to their web site, along with their preferred dog food and contact information for their regular supplier. Fans can use this info to contact the supplier directly to purchase dog food for the kennel. When the logo/supplier info is posted to the kennel’s web site, their kennel name and link will be listed on this page.
This is a free listing service provided by Sled Dog Central and is open to fans and sled dog kennels world-wide. Our goal is to provide a central connection point for fans and sled dog kennels. All financial transactions are solely between the purchaser and the supplier.
Why is this type of program not being promoted by mushers and their organizations to help needy kennels and rescue operations? I watch the list of kennels who have signed up for this program, and I know many of them personally. I’ve even been to some of their houses, and let me tell you – they are in no way in need of donations. Mushing is a luxury sport for them, and though their dogs live in plastic houses on the end of chains, their own personal houses and vehicles are top notch. So why are these people now asking for donations to operate their teams?
Everyone should try a little compassion and turn this into a charity collection, to help such sled dogs as the 97 recently rescued in Canada, or the dozens of mushers who have run out of food due to poor salmon runs in Fort Yukon this month.
The HSUS Offers Reward in Suspected Puppy Mill Cruelty Case in Erie County
The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for abandoning more than 30 young dogs and puppies in Erie County, N.Y.
The Case:
News reports and the SPCA Serving Erie County give the following account: Thirty-one terriers aged from 3 months to 2 years — including one deceased — were found abandoned and left to die in the area of Rt. 219 and Trevett Road in Concord, N.Y., on Nov. 8. Covered in feces, urine and fleas, some of the dogs — mostly Jack Russell terriers and small terrier mixes — were also pregnant, leading local animal control officials to conclude they were used for breeding in a puppy mill operation before being dumped by the road. Many were found with high fevers, several had skin diseases and many have discharge from their eyes and noses. Investigators believe more dogs and puppies from this group might be out there.
Animal Cruelty:
Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.
Puppy Mills:
Dogs from puppy mills are mass produced solely for profit and are sold in pet stores, online and directly to consumers with little to no regard for the dog’s health, genetic history or welfare.
“Abandoning caged dogs to die is an inexcusable act of animal cruelty and whoever did this needs to be prosecuted for their crime,” said Patrick Kwan, The HSUS’ New York state director. “Unfortunately, there are still thousands of puppy mills throughout the country where dogs continue to suffer. We urge consumers to adopt pets from animal shelters or find a reputable breeder they have met and screened in person instead of fueling the demand for dogs raised in puppy mills.”
The Investigators:
The SPCA Serving Erie County is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 716-629-3537.
Barbara Carr, executive director for the SPCA Serving Erie County, said, “This community has come together in the past when similar cases have occurred, and we’re again turning to community members for help in solving this case. Anyone who knows anything about the former guardian of these dogs…the person who may have been responsible for this monstrous act…or who saw unusual behavior along southtown roads and highways Sunday, Nov. 8, is encouraged to contact us.”
Resources:
The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. To see our journalists’ animal cruelty resource guide, which includes information on statistics, trends, laws and animal cruelty categories, go to humanesociety.org.
